My object, a padded bra, is a reminder of what our family calls “The Gay Deceivers” story and it’s one that always makes me smile. In 2005 my grandmother passed away. We sat shiva at my house where family and friends shared grief and fond memories. My grandpa told a story that we hadn’t heard before that makes us laugh to this day-if partly at his expense. He was the youngest child of Ukrainian Jewish immigrants who had settled in Brooklyn, N.Y. Like many young children of poor immigrants, he had to work to help support his family. As a teenager he worked in a women’s clothing shop called Lerner’s which, like many shops, was owned by a Jewish immigrant. My grandfather usually worked in the stockroom but occasionally worked on the sales floor. On one of those days a woman customer entered the store and asked him for a “gay deceiver.” He had no clue what she was talking about but wandered around the store trying to fake it. Finally, a young salesgirl noticed what was going on and came to his rescue. She quietly explained to him that gay deceivers were brassieres designed to “enhance” the bust. We couldn’t stop laughing when he described turning red and not being able to speak. Taking pity on him the salesgirl finished helping the customer. At closing time Mr. Lerner insisted that my grandfather walk her home since it was getting dark. Before long he was walking her home every night. That kind young salesgirl, as you may have guessed, was my grandmother Anne.

– Alexis Eldridge

Relationship:  Child of im/migrant Child of im/migrant