Matt Dorio is a nice man. He has worked hard to get what he wants and he has always achieved his goals.

He has worked in sports management for accomplished teams, like NY Red Bulls, the Boston Red Sox, and the Portland Trail Blazers. He’s very proud of everything he has accomplished in his career.

He’s a jolly good guy who goes out of his way to be kind to others and give them a smile or a laugh.

Matt also happens to be a proud gay man.

Matt lives in the diverse city of Portland, Oregon, where the LGBTQ community have no problem and where they live an open and peaceful life. But as with everything in this world, there are still a few people who have a problem with the LGBTQ community living in their city.

Early this year, Matt experienced it firsthand while he waited to pay for his groceries.

“I was standing in the cashier line at the grocery store. I wore my Portland Trail Blazers Pride sweatshirt today to work. It’s one of my favorite articles of clothing,” Matt started. “An older gentleman, standing right behind me, decided to say, ‘Why are you wearing that rainbow shirt? Are you some sort of fa***t?’”

Suffice it to say, Matt was taken aback. It was already 2019 and he couldn’t believe people still lived with a lack of compassion.

Although tempted, Matt didn’t want to feed the older man’s hostility with more hostility.

“I said, ‘Well sir, I am a gay man, yes. And I wear this to show people that I am not only proud of myself and my community, but also the organization I work for, who supports Diversity, Equality and Inclusion,'” Matt replied.

Matt didn’t want to incite the man even more so he tried to end the conversation in a compassionate way.

But the man wasn’t done, not even close.

“He then proceeded to say, ‘Have fun in hell, homo. Hope you’re proud of the choice you decided to make.’ This man then goes on to mumble homophobic slurs to me, the whole time I’m waiting in line. I ignore him, pay for my food, and start to walk away,” Matt narrated.

Matt wanted to walk away from the hostility and ignore his negativity.

As he walked away, though, he noticed something happening to the older man.

“I then notice his card gets declined. He keeps trying and trying and he isn’t able to pay for his food. I walk up to the cash register and pay for his 3 items. He looks at me and goes, ‘Why would you do that?’” Matt continued.

Matt then shared a lesson that he wishes the older man had heard. He hopes the older man will accept and practice it.

“I said, ‘Well sir, unlike my sexuality, which is not a choice… I’m choosing to be a nice person. I hope you find it in your heart to understand your words can be hurtful, but I’m choosing to see you for the person you are, and I wanted to help you.’ He said nothing, and I walked away,” Matt said.

In a world where kindness is always a choice, Matt showed this older man how to make that choice.

Matt also wanted to share these words with other people.

“Take the high road people. Be the better person and show people that hate is never the answer. Be brave, stand up, and kill them with kindness,” Matt shared.

Wise words, Matt. Let’s all remember to embody them.

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