"I've had a thing for him since the first day I ever met him," says Rick Hodges about his partner, Jamison Riddle. 
Rick and Jamison are a gay couple who know all about discrimination. Rick was just recently laid off and says it's because of his sexuality.
"It's funny...They said, Rick...You're a great employee and you're a great cook...but you can't work here 'cuz you have AIDS," Rick Hodges says.
The restaurant owners were concerned about Rick spreading HIV but doctor's say the chances are slim to none.
"Because even if there was an accident that happened, where somebody cut themselves or something like that. That's going to go through their digestive system not their bloodstream," Kevin Owens, a Nurse Practitioner from AIDS Resources of Rural Texas says.
It's through the bloodstream that HIV is spread. But it's more then being accused of having HIV and getting fired from a job.
Many towns here in the big country hold onto their conservative values, making it difficult for homosexuals to live their lives in this community.
"You know in Austin in Dallas and stuff...I can walk down the sidewalk and hold his hand in little stores and stuff...And it's no big deal...But here...You'll probably get shot," Jamison Riddle says.
When Jamison first came out of the closet his family and friends weren't supportive.
"I ended up moving, you know running away to where I could be accepted," Jamison says. "But, I'm back now and everybody knows and they're gunna have to deal with us. My family accepts it and the one's that don't,they still have to deal with me anyway," Jamison adds.
Jamison and Rick say that there are cities around the country that are much more accepting of homosexuals than here in the Big Country.
"It's too bad they didn't settle in San Fransisco, life would be so much easier. My ancestors settled here in Texas.This is my heritage and I'm not leaving...I'm not going to be bullied out of here," Jamison says.
Rick and Jamison say that they haven't experienced any real discrimination here in Abilene, but where they live in Brownwood, being gay isn't easy.
Rick and Jamison are a gay couple who know all about discrimination. Rick was just recently laid off and says it's because of his sexuality.
"It's funny...They said, Rick...You're a great employee and you're a great cook...but you can't work here 'cuz you have AIDS," Rick Hodges says.
The restaurant owners were concerned about Rick spreading HIV but doctor's say the chances are slim to none.
"Because even if there was an accident that happened, where somebody cut themselves or something like that. That's going to go through their digestive system not their bloodstream," Kevin Owens, a Nurse Practitioner from AIDS Resources of Rural Texas says.
It's through the bloodstream that HIV is spread. But it's more then being accused of having HIV and getting fired from a job.
Many towns here in the big country hold onto their conservative values, making it difficult for homosexuals to live their lives in this community.
"You know in Austin in Dallas and stuff...I can walk down the sidewalk and hold his hand in little stores and stuff...And it's no big deal...But here...You'll probably get shot," Jamison Riddle says.
When Jamison first came out of the closet his family and friends weren't supportive.
"I ended up moving, you know running away to where I could be accepted," Jamison says. "But, I'm back now and everybody knows and they're gunna have to deal with us. My family accepts it and the one's that don't,they still have to deal with me anyway," Jamison adds.
Jamison and Rick say that there are cities around the country that are much more accepting of homosexuals than here in the Big Country.
"It's too bad they didn't settle in San Fransisco, life would be so much easier. My ancestors settled here in Texas.This is my heritage and I'm not leaving...I'm not going to be bullied out of here," Jamison says.
Rick and Jamison say that they haven't experienced any real discrimination here in Abilene, but where they live in Brownwood, being gay isn't easy.
