Vicissitudes Weekly

 Transformation begins here. 

“Lots of girls fall in love with girls and boys fall in love with boys. Don’t they?”

Kim Green’s Rain -  from Vicissitudes

This is the question that 9-year-old Rain asks her mother, Morgan, as she attempts to grasp the concept of homophobia. Neither Rain nor her mother can wrap their heads around it. 

This scene from Vicissitudes is the entry point to the discussion of unconditional love, which is one of the foundational themes of the novel. Their discussion arises because Morgan knows of her best friend, Rene’s, pain as she grapples with the death of Rene’s mother and the irreversible damage that her mother has caused her. Rene is a symbol of the broken-heartedness that comes from being disavowed by one’s own blood. Morgan struggles to explain the irrationality of hatred to a child who has never been a victim of the kind of conditional love that keeps people from living their truth. 

How do you teach your children about the miracle of love? What do you tell them to ensure that they recognize that no love is ever wrong? 

Love is rare and precious and our world needs us to love now, more than ever. Vicissitudes urges us to dismantle the negativity that is too often associated with progress. The longevity of our very survival relies on our resistance to anything that doesn’t encourage love and respect for all beings, always. 

Although the conversation of homophobia has been harmful enough, it takes on an even dimmer glow when it comes to transphobia. In recent years, the powerful presence of trans people has caused a seismic shift in our world, including within the LGBT community. The Trans revolution is showing us who we are.  When a person we love admits that their body does not match their soul, it is a profound truth-telling that must not be ignored. This is happening all around us to people everywhere, including  people we admire like superstars, Cher and Sade, both with trans sons. More recently, actor, Gabrielle Union has come into the limelight as a visible and incredible ally, publicly defending and loving her trans daughter, Zaya. Zaya is not only African American, she is the daughter of famous professional basketball player,  Dwayne Wade. Their highly visible family has come together as a true picture of unconditional love and courage. Their devotion to Zaya is unmovable,  despite some of the harsh rhetoric hurled their way. Union recently tweeted, “It’s OK to listen to, love & respect your children, exactly as they are.” Vicissitudes dares you to be transformed. 

Love transforms,

KG

Kim Green is the author of “Vicissitudes”

For more information or to purchase Vicissitudes, visit www.wordsllc.com

Sneak peek holiday pre-release, November 26, 2020 available only at www.wordsllc.com

Official release: February 2021, available everywhere.

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