It finally happened.

[Phillip1114]

Hello everyone, I have been wearing kilts for almost two years now and anytime I'm out in one I usually get some questions and comments (especially from the ladies) but they have always been nice and supportive. Tonight I ran into 'Joe Redneck' at the grocery store while shopping with my wife. When we left the store there were some very lewd comments about sexual orientation and name calling directed at me and my 'dress' from the safety of his pick up truck. I normally ignore people but for some reason I gave him the 'California Howdy' which didn't help matters, he finally drove off with a torrent of insults.
How often does this happen to members of our community here? I was curious how you deal with it. In Alabama I guess it is to be expected. I suppose I should have just ignored him and not even looked in his direction. I'm just a little dumbfounded by it.

[OC Richard]

This has happened to me very rarely in my 40 years wearing the kilt, the only times I can think of are a couple times I've been hired to pipe at a Middle School and I get a couple boys sniggering. Never from an adult that I can recall.

But a cautionary tale: Many years ago a drummer in our Pipe Band was wearing his kilt driving home from a late gig. Around midnight he needed to buy gas so he pulled into a shady-looking gas station in a shady-looking part of the city, the sort of gas station with a small bulletproof office that the salesman sits in.

Well our drummer was filling his car when a truck pulls up and four tough-looking guys jump out and start heading towards our man, with lengths of pipe etc in their hands, saying "we're going to send you to the hospital".

He says "I don't think so" and went on pumping gas. When they got close enough he announced that he was a Police Officer and drew his offduty weapon, at which the tough guys ran back to their truck and sped away.

I fully expect this post to be deleted, so be it.

[Benning Boy]

To the best of my knowledge it's only happened once to me, just a couple of days ago. While trying to book a halibut fishing charter in Homer, Alaska, two big guys, and a medium sized gal squeezed into the tiny office behind me. I heard one of the guys mumbling under his breath about going fishing with a guy in a skirt. Other than that I've never had anything but positive responses, although here in Alaska it seems to be the men paying the most compliments. Makes me think the Lumber Jack Song must be number one on the top forty here. I have well rehearsed defense, should I ever have a gas station moment, I just go full-bore psycho on my adversaries, enough to make them think I've escaped the loony bin, and am a genuine threat to their safety, more than they are to mine, and so far everyone has always backed away and left me alone. I think a kilt would only add to the seeming reality of act.

[Profane James]

... In Alabama I guess it is to be expected. I suppose I should have just ignored him and not even looked in his direction. I'm just a little dumbfounded by it.

Ignorance is as ignorance does...
Alabama is full of Scots and Scots-Irish, and if the gentleman would do his fair share of family research I'm certain he would be surprised...

[OC Richard]

Ignorance is as ignorance does...
Alabama is full of Scots and Scots-Irish, and if the gentleman would do his fair share of family research I'm certain he would be surprised...

That's the odd thing, isn't it? that the very people who one would think would have some awareness are often the most ignorant.

There's a couple here who used to go around performing at Irish and Scottish festivals and events. They both played harp and sung. The guy was fluent in Welsh, Irish, and Scottish Gaelic, his wife could certainly sing in those languages.

Well, they were performing at a Clans Of The Highlands event, singing songs in Scottish Gaelic, and some ignorant brute runs up to them and starts yelling at them to stop singing in Arabic. The eejit was of Scottish Highland descent and was wearing a kilt at the time!

[ratspike]

I don't live in the south so take my $0.02 for what it's worth. I think overt hostility like that is definitely the exception. One dude throwing homophobic insults from the cab of his truck is probably just that, but it pays to be careful. Hatred that's based on race or sexual orientation makes people sketchy, and you never know who's looking for an excuse to mix it up. Someone being stupid or rude is one thing, but a guy, or group of guys, hopped up on testosterone and hate is something else entirely. Violence against gay and trans people is still very real. Wearing a kilt is obviously not an indicator of one's sexual preference, but ignorance is a peculiar thing.

IMO it's best to ignore them, since what they want is for you to give them a response, and that just potentially throws fuel on the fire. Never let your mouth, or middle finger, write a check that your fists aren't prepared to cash, y'know?

[Riverkilt]

Born in Selma, Alabama. Lived in Birmingham, Alabama, travelled the state...just ain't no doubt about it the gent LOVED the kilt and is just too embarrassed to admit it. Too bad you didn't get his address, we could send him a Ladies from Hell t-shirt.

[Profane James]

...starts yelling at them to stop singing in Arabic. The eejit was of Scottish Highland descent and was wearing a kilt at the time!

Gah! well there you go...

[Profane James]

?..One dude throwing homophobic insults from the cab of his truck is probably just that, but it pays to be careful.

This is true.

[Kilted cabin boy]

I have always had supportive comments, I know someday it will come. Don't stoop to their level and laugh at them for not being man enough to wear a kilt.