I know, or at least assume, that most of the people who are involved in quilting and sewing and msqc are female - but there is ROB and the guy with the bags and 3 dudes, so I know there are men involved and I thought that MSQC was good with that. I mean Jenny's grandSON made a quilt and was on a tutorial for heaven sakes.
When I found Jenny and MSQC and began to learn to do this amazing thing with a sewing machine I fell hard for it. Jenny herself seems sooo kind and good on the tutorials. Like many, I was hooked not only by the quilting but by the goodness. In meeting others who quilt and sew I found that there were so many generous and loving people. It filled a place in my life and I was so grateful. I remember thinking that I would watch the tutorials even if I didn't sew at all, just for the goodness that seems to pour through them. And then, today, I found out that because I am male, I am not welcome.
I had imagined, as many of you I'm sure have as well, planning a trip to visit - to look for a retreat where I could maybe learn from Jenny or at least one where she would do a "trunk show?" I've been to Disney - but I thought THIS is the REAL DEAL. Hamilton MO must be one amazingly happy and beautiful place. Then to find out that none of this would be possible for me just because of my gender - because I am male. This was really hard to hear. I know it may not seem like much to some, but being excluded like that from something you have grown to really love is tough. It hurts. I feel like I have lost something I treasured, and it is just not fair. For those of you who love MSQC and as her son said in interview on what has happened with their business, "people just fell in love with mom," imagine what it would be like if they told you that you weren't welcome because of something like your gender or race or whatever. It's not fair is what I need to say and it's not nice. I'm so conflicted, because I really have and deep down still believe in the goodness - but to have it be this way is honestly painful.
Just thought I would share that and hopefully things can change someday so that everyone will be welcome - and no one else needs feel that door close them out.
When I found Jenny and MSQC and began to learn to do this amazing thing with a sewing machine I fell hard for it. Jenny herself seems sooo kind and good on the tutorials. Like many, I was hooked not only by the quilting but by the goodness. In meeting others who quilt and sew I found that there were so many generous and loving people. It filled a place in my life and I was so grateful. I remember thinking that I would watch the tutorials even if I didn't sew at all, just for the goodness that seems to pour through them. And then, today, I found out that because I am male, I am not welcome.
I had imagined, as many of you I'm sure have as well, planning a trip to visit - to look for a retreat where I could maybe learn from Jenny or at least one where she would do a "trunk show?" I've been to Disney - but I thought THIS is the REAL DEAL. Hamilton MO must be one amazingly happy and beautiful place. Then to find out that none of this would be possible for me just because of my gender - because I am male. This was really hard to hear. I know it may not seem like much to some, but being excluded like that from something you have grown to really love is tough. It hurts. I feel like I have lost something I treasured, and it is just not fair. For those of you who love MSQC and as her son said in interview on what has happened with their business, "people just fell in love with mom," imagine what it would be like if they told you that you weren't welcome because of something like your gender or race or whatever. It's not fair is what I need to say and it's not nice. I'm so conflicted, because I really have and deep down still believe in the goodness - but to have it be this way is honestly painful.
Just thought I would share that and hopefully things can change someday so that everyone will be welcome - and no one else needs feel that door close them out.
Comment