Patrick Kreifels (PK) and Michelle Kreifels (MK)
PK: You are different from some of your brothers and sisters. Is that right?
MK: Yes.
PK: You wanna talk a little bit about how you’re different?
MK: I am handicapped.
PK: In what way do you have a handicap?
MK: Mental.
PK: So you have like an intellectual disability.
MK: Mm-hmm.
PK: You’re not the only one that’s different in the family, right?
MK: You’re different too.
PK: And how am I different?
MK: Gay.
PK: Yeah. When you found out how did you feel about that?
MK: It’s something that I wouldn’t want.
PK: You didn’t want me to be gay is that what you meant?
MK: Yeah.
PK: And why is that?
MK: I just think husband—wife and husband should be together.
PK: But then you…
MK: Accepted it. Yeah.
PK: Accepted it. And how’d you do that?
MK: Just thought about it. And I thought, ”He can do whatever he wants.” [laughs]
PK: Yeah.
MK: What made you decide that you were going to be gay?
PK: It wasn’t something that I decided. I was just kind of born that way.
MK: Mmhmm.
PK: And I tried to not be that way for a while and I wasn’t happy. So I just accepted who I was. I’m glad I did too. I’m a happier person.
MK: Yes you are. Fun to be around.
PK: Well I’ve learned a lot from you over the years that’s for sure. I remember in the summer before I went to college, I did the same job that you did, at the plant, and you had to train me.
MK: Yep. And you had a hard time.
PK: I did have a hard time. Took me a while to get the hang of it, but you were a good teacher to me. You’re patient and you’re really good for me and I appreciate you accepting me and all my differences too. It means a lot.
MK: Thanks. I love you.
PK: I love you, too.
MK: Yeah.