--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We both grew up at a time when…" description: "\"“We both grew up at a time when homosexuality was not even spoken about. There were certainly no books that could help a young person understand that t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b44/norman-sunshine-73949_alan-shayne_we-both-grew-up-at-a-time-when-homosexua_619713.jpg" --- # We both grew up at a time when homosexuality was not even… ![“We both grew up at a time when homosexuality was not even spoken about. There were certainly no books that could help a young person understand that two people of the same sex could build a happy, productive and loving life together. When we entered our 50th year, another same sex couple told us…” quote by Norman Sunshine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b44/norman-sunshine-73949_alan-shayne_we-both-grew-up-at-a-time-when-homosexua_619713.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b44/norman-sunshine-73949_alan-shayne_we-both-grew-up-at-a-time-when-homosexua_619713.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b44/norman-sunshine-73949_alan-shayne_we-both-grew-up-at-a-time-when-homosexua_619713.jpg) > ““We both grew up at a time when homosexuality was not even spoken about. There were certainly no books that could help a young person understand that two people of the same sex could build a happy, productive and loving life together. When we entered our 50th year, another same sex couple told us we were ‘an inspiration’, so we began to feel we had the responsibility to make what we’ve experienced available to others. We also wanted to show people who were not gay that our life was not unlike theirs. We are all pretty much the same, so we deserve equal protection under the Constitution.”” Norman Sunshine ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Shared human experiences should grant equal constitutional rights regardless of sexual orientation. **In simple terms:** Equality stems from common humanity. Key Takeaway Advocate for equal protection for all. Themes rights equality humanity Mood hopeful determined Type activist political When to use this quote - legal advocacy - community outreach - education campaigns Key Concepts civil rights social justice identity politics Questions to Reflect On - How can personal stories shift public opinion? - What legal steps ensure lasting equality? A Different Perspective Opposition may arise from entrenched biases. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Double life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/double-life/) [Homosexuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homosexuality/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-together/) [Love story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-story/) [Loving life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loving-life/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“After 50 years together as a couple: "Look how fast the leaves are falling now," Alan says. "The trees will be bare in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-sunshine/after-50-years-together-as-a-couple-look-how-fast-the-leaves-are/) Norman Sunshine > [“About their wedding on a beach of Nantucket, after nearly 50 years together as a couple: "After years of being who we truly were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-sunshine/about-their-wedding-on-a-beach-of-nantucket-after-nearly-50-years/) Norman Sunshine > [“As an artist in the 1960s, Norman Sunshine was able to maintain a moderately out lifestyle. But when the first exhibition of his paintings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-sunshine/as-an-artist-in-the-1960s-norman-sunshine-was-able-to-maintain-a/) Norman Sunshine > [“In the 1970s, when Norman Sunshine won an Emmy for the graphics and title design he had created for one of Alan Shayne’s television…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-shayne/in-the-1970s-when-norman-sunshine-won-an-emmy-for-the-graphics-and/) Alan Shayne > [“Upon their meeting in New York in 1958: “We didn’t want to live together. We didn’t have any examples of what a good love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-shayne/upon-their-meeting-in-new-york-in-1958-we-didn-t-want-to-live/) Alan Shayne > [Often I'm told I'm an inspiration to people which I will forever be grateful for. But the reality is that I'm only able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizzie-velasquez/often-i-m-told-i-m-an-inspiration-to-people-which-i-will-forever-be/) [Lizzie Velasquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizzie-velasquez/) > [“The night before, Belle had stayed up past her bedtime, making a few changes to her doll with her father's tools. She couldn't help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/random-house-disney/the-night-before-belle-had-stayed-up-past-her-bedtime-making-a-few/) [Random House Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/random-house-disney/) ## More by Norman Sunshine > [“After 50 years together as a couple: "Look how fast the leaves are falling now," Alan says. "The trees will be bare in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-sunshine/after-50-years-together-as-a-couple-look-how-fast-the-leaves-are/) Norman Sunshine > [“About their wedding on a beach of Nantucket, after nearly 50 years together as a couple: "After years of being who we truly were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-sunshine/about-their-wedding-on-a-beach-of-nantucket-after-nearly-50-years/) Norman Sunshine > [“As an artist in the 1960s, Norman Sunshine was able to maintain a moderately out lifestyle. But when the first exhibition of his paintings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-sunshine/as-an-artist-in-the-1960s-norman-sunshine-was-able-to-maintain-a/) Norman Sunshine Explore all 4 Norman Sunshine quotes ## More Alan-shayne quotes > [“After 50 years together as a couple: "Look how fast the leaves are falling now," Alan says. "The trees will be bare in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-sunshine/after-50-years-together-as-a-couple-look-how-fast-the-leaves-are/) Norman Sunshine > [“In the 1970s, when Norman Sunshine won an Emmy for the graphics and title design he had created for one of Alan Shayne’s television…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-shayne/in-the-1970s-when-norman-sunshine-won-an-emmy-for-the-graphics-and/) Alan Shayne > [“About their wedding on a beach of Nantucket, after nearly 50 years together as a couple: "After years of being who we truly were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-sunshine/about-their-wedding-on-a-beach-of-nantucket-after-nearly-50-years/) Norman Sunshine > [“Upon their meeting in New York in 1958: “We didn’t want to live together. We didn’t have any examples of what a good love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-shayne/upon-their-meeting-in-new-york-in-1958-we-didn-t-want-to-live/) Alan Shayne > [“As an artist in the 1960s, Norman Sunshine was able to maintain a moderately out lifestyle. But when the first exhibition of his paintings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-sunshine/as-an-artist-in-the-1960s-norman-sunshine-was-able-to-maintain-a/) Norman Sunshine Browse all 6 Alan-shayne quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We both grew up at a time when homosexuality was not even spoken about. There were certainly no books that could help a young person understand that two people of the same sex could build a happy, productive and loving life together. When we entered our 50th year, another same sex couple told us we were ‘an inspiration’, so we began to feel we had the responsibility to make what we’ve experienced available to others. 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