AboutMichelle Expertise I can answer/explore questions regarding: coming out; conflicts of faith for both the gay/lesbian person accepting their own sexuality as well as friends/family accepting the sexuality of someone they care about; coming out to your children; talking to your teens about being gay; coming out of a long term opposite sex marriage; history of marriage; legal recognition of same gender marriages; how ultra-conservative religious training/upbringing affects gays and lesbians; being "out" in a small, conservative community; current dynamics of religion/dynamics.
Experience I was raised in a conservative Christian church, and still am a Christian. From my earliest memories, I always had "crushes" on girls/women, but because of my background and training, believed homosexuality was a "sin" and that I was an abomination. I believed it was a "choice" and I was determined to choose heterosexuality. I married a man (claimed to be a Christian, ended up being abusive), had three kids, and was married for 20 years. I attended a Christian college (had devastating crushes there) and at the age of 26 started writing and speaking for Christian groups across the United States and Canada. After fifteen years of teaching others to "remove the masks" I finally peeled away my last mask. I lost my church, my oldest friend, my career, and quite a few people I trusted and loved--but I gained my soul. You can't fool God. I used my experience and tweny-five years of biblical studies to understand how scriptures have been misused against the gay/lesbian/bi/trans community. I am now married to a woman (seven years) and active in the gay/lesbian community. I have made myself an expert on same gender marriage issues and legal cases. I am very involved in local, state, and national politics.
Organizations HRC
PFLAG
Equal Rights Washington
Legal Marriage Alliance
Publications
Two books and hundreds of articles for Christian publishers
Publisher's Weekly
Western Horseman
Education/Credentials 2.5 years of college, including a variety of theology classes.
11 years of seminars & workshops
20 years as a writer (fifteen of which were for Christian publishers)
I am sure you've heard it all before, just as I have as well. However, for the 1st time since i came out at 17, i've got a straight crush!
Honestly, I'm 36 and I got a huge crush on my supervisor and the weird thing is that I believe she's got a crush on me as well. I work in a very CONSERVATIVE environment, so I am NOT 'out' in the workplace. Most assume that I have a 'boyfriend', since they know i'm not married.
I am in a committed relationship and have and will always be faithful. I have told my partner every single thing that has transpired and even she agrees that my boss acts 'strange'.
Here are some of the scenarios: I get the 'long looks' from her, just like when my partner wants me to kiss her, and it unnerves me. She even does it at work - lingers too long after we've stopped talking. She has told me on more than 1 occasion that she thinks i'm 'beautiful' and that she loves my 'black skin'. When we're outside of work, she greets me with hugs and kisses, near the lips, but aims for the cheek. We sit and talk for HOURS on end. We once sat on her couch for 7hrs and just talked and talked and talked. Meanwhile, her hubby and kid never hover or interrupt. She tells me that she doesn't 'tire' of me and that for her is strange.
Michelle, I could go on and on with all the things that she says to me. I know that my feelings are that of a school-girl crush. This woman is UBER smart (which is a turn-on for me) and full of very helpful, useful information on my 'new' career. I want to learn as much as I can about our job b/f she retires, which is soon. I just can not help feeling a 'chemistry' of sorts when I'm with her. I don't want to 'jump her bones', I like the attention she gives.
I just want some sort of confirmation that it isn't just me who thinks she's got a little crush. What do you think?
Answer I think your gut instincts are pretty right on...and she probably is the same way you are...she probably feels this incredible attraction but has her boundaries about acting on it...but that doesn't stop the attraction. Nope, you aren't crazy...sounds to me like she feels the same way.
Does your partner feel threatened or jealous in any way? It sounds like you have a very high level of communication in that relationship...
