A Message from Heart to Conscience

From the early 1960s to mid 80s, my husband and I raised our four children, two boys and two girls, in what I would describe as a “heterosexual home environment”.

Knowing virtually nothing about “other” possibilities allowed us to treat all our kids as “straight”, just like ourselves.

It wasn’t until 1984 that we had a heart-rending awakening.

Our youngest, at age 16, made an earnest attempt to end his life. We were lucky; he survived.

This shocking and frightening incident was our discovery of human diversity on a whole new level.

During a counseling session weeks later, our son revealed his long-kept secret. He was gay, NOT straight.

In days to follow, he would share how as a boy of 5-6, he felt “different”, but was unable to identify the core of this sensation until he neared the age of puberty.

My mind flashed back to little girl crushes I’d had on boys in the early 1950s. I did not have to keep these feelings a secret.

Read the rest of this letter at shauaritasun.com.

They Never Talked About Gay Issues One Way or the Other

Taken from Daily Kos, where you can read the rest of this touching story.

I grew up in a very small town in southeastern Pennsylvania - population about 3,500, including chickens and cows. Family was wall-to-wall Republicans. They never talked about gay issues one way or the other when I grew up, but my dad was increasingly distressed that I never dated or even seemed especially interested in girls.

My parents’ marriage went from bad to worse - lots of alcohol, lots of violence - so my priority was just getting by. I was never popular, but had a few close male friends, all from families just as screwed up as my own, and we all kind of pulled each other through. Breathing a sigh of relief about getting away from home, I went to Penn State. Had a great time there, but felt an ever-increasing attraction to the guys on campus, and not a flicker of interest toward women. In high school I could always tell myself I just hadn’t found the right woman, but on a large campus with tens of thousands of female students (and having been stalked by one disturbed female student in particular who once literally broke into my bedroom while I was sleeping to be with me…but that’s another story….) I had to begin to admit to myself that I probably wasn’t going to marry and have 2.5 kids and the house with the white picket fence. My alcohol consumption went out of control, but I still graduated.

For Those Who Support the GLBT Community

First and foremost, if you are straight, and you support the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender community, THANK YOU! Fortunately for us (the GLBT community) there are many of those on the out-side, such as our family and friends who, although are not directly part of the GLBT community, provide our community with a great deal of support.

Maybe you are one of those who are not gay, but love someone who is? Perhaps a co-worker, friend, son or daughter has recently come out to you. Maybe it’s even your parent.

If you, or someone you know, has recently been “come out” to, then perhaps the most important thing you can do is give your support. Not sure where to begin?

One organization, PFLAG or Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays can provide you with the resources you need.

To find a PFLAG chapter near you, click here.

Why It Can Be So Scary to Come Out

Why are people afraid to come out?

When and If You Are Ready to Come Out

I have taught my son many things. To be honest, he has taught me much more. What I want to leave you with now is the product of these things. The most important thing in life, as far as I am concerned, is to be who you are. Unfortunately, being who you are sometimes comes at a price. I wish that I could say that the person/s whom you fear hurting the most will “come around”. I wish that I could say that all parents, relatives, friends, employers, fellow employees, all peripheral people will come to understand and accept who you are. I cannot say that; I would never give you a hope like that.

Read the rest of this amazing post at connyvandyke.wordpress.com.

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