Thanksgiving is supposed to be a holiday that you spend with your family. Thanksgiving is also a holiday for recognizing everything you are thankful for, whether it be family, friends, coworkers or a significant other. However, when your family disagrees with you, it can create tension and even be upsetting.
Not every family is going to agree about everything, especially when it comes to politics and human rights issues. When the conversation topics at the dinner table turn political, it can make for some arguments and uncomfortable situations. College students are just trying to destress and eat some good home-cooked food, not hash out their political differences with their family over the Thanksgiving turkey.
College students consider Thanksgiving and Christmas as times to destress, relax, and not have to worry about over-due assignments or waking up in time for class. It’s bad enough that college students get interrogated during the holidays about grades, their job or their significant other. Why should the time that they spend with family they barely see be filled with political arguments?
“My family and I don’t agree when it comes to politics and other human rights issues,” said sophomore psychology major Franchesca Ross. “I’m omnisexual and my family is homophobic. I’m pro-choice and my family is against abortions.”
Freshman biology major Stefani Cabusora said, “Since my parents are Catholic, they don’t like that I am bisexual. After I came out to my parents, I try to steer away from topics that I know will start arguments, and they don’t bring it up…it makes me sad that I can’t open up with my parents.”
During the holiday season, Cabusora said, “knowing that my family doesn’t approve of my sexuality, I try to get out of going to family gatherings.”
When your family makes comments that you do not agree with or that upset you, it can make you not want to attend family gatherings. If you want to spend time with your family, political views and human rights issues should not stop you.
“Thankfully, my family and I have a lot of the same views,” said freshman psychology major Ashanti Jones. “They do not care that I am queer, though I haven’t come out to all of them yet, but I know they would be accepting of me.” Jones added, “while I’m glad the majority of them are very accepting, they tend to talk about politics a lot, which makes me a little uncomfortable simply because the few viewpoints that we don’t share can come up.”
If you have to attend these family gatherings, try not to pay attention to what your family members say. It’s okay to have different opinions from your family members. If your family does not agree with your sexuality or gender identity, know that your family should love you no matter who you are.
Photo by Olivia Esselman
