This is just my opinion and only mine alone. These bookstores and so on are businesses. Bottom line is the all mighty dollar. That pretty much is what most everyone can agree upon to worship, christian bookstore, music store Wal Mart and the list goes on. I run my own business but it's just me that owns and works it. You have to pander to the customer base. I am transgender in being one way on the outside with subtle hints and feeling totally oposite on the inside. If I ever decided to open a christian bookstore myself, which I wouldn't, I would have no problem hiring transgender, gay and lesbians. Hell, I'd even hire a Christian.
But the bottom line is that the customer is always "right" and even if not kiss their backside and make them feel good so that they keep coming back and throwing their cash at you... So with that said, I would dress the part and act the part of a christian bookstore owner and would ask the same from my employees. A uniform of sort and there are plenty of companys out there that require you to wear one.
Would I work for a Christian bookstore? Nah, not my thing. If I had to, could I? Most certainly. I would dress the part, except for the hair, remember Jesus had long hair in all the so-called portraits of him being European which actually makes me laugh. If someone is offensively ignorant(true sense of the word), like a lot of people are, I would just try to expand their minds a little. If they say something like God hates gays, comeback and ask if Jesus would turn away a gay person or man dressed as a woman or vice versa seeking help. Well, you know what they would say. Something like, "No, he would help them overcome their "homosexuality". Then you can always ask, What if that person can't walk? and on and on. Eventually it may lead to a more enlightened way of thinking for the individual. But then again I love trying to expand people's minds.
I don't know but I'm not an activist. I'm more of a let me live my life and you live yours kind of person. If I want to dress in heels and a skirt and I can't land a job because of it, so be it. I would seek a job that I could present myself openly. If I want a job badly and it's something I enjoy doing and have to conform with what the owner wants, then I have to decide but my own time is my time and shouldn't even be a consideration for employment or the employer's business. Or do like I did, work for yourself, put up with the crap for short periods of time then go back to wearing short shorts, sandals and a tanktop or whatever you choose to wear.
I don't care about acceptance as much as mutual respect. You have to ask for acceptance but you can demand respect. I accept and respect myself, who cares if anyone else does?
In my opinion and observations, a lot of activism like this leads to more resentment. The in your face approach don't really work because it doesn't do anything but reinforce their stereotypical ideals. You can go farther by being slow and steady than sitting in the same spot spinning your wheels and burning perfectly good rubber.
