I agree with you completely. I'm straight myself, but I know a bi male, a gay male and looads of bi girls, and one of those girls is my absolute best friend, who I have no compunctions about snuggling up with in bed. My GBF IS pretty flamboyant, but the media image is stupud - some gays are feminine, yes, but, equally, some are the most masculine men you will ever meet - they just happen to be attracted to other men.

However, I AM a bit wierd, in that I support any form of love so long as its consensual (this is a very broad description of my beliefs and suumes that they aremature enough/mentally capable of making that decision). When my GBF came out to me I squed in delight. If my friend told me they fancied their brother I'd accept it. The way I see it, there are so many terrible things done through forced love in this world, any love is far more precious and infinitely preferable to abhorrent and traumatizing acts like rape. So long as you're Safe, Sane and Consensual, I couldn't care less.

Now my rant's over, I'd like to say good luck with coming out to your family. My best friend hasn't come our to hers, and only intends to when she has some one who's worth it. I am constantly astonished at the strength of homosexuals who find the courage to stand up for what they are. Best wishes, huggles, and good luck.

Oh, before I go ... *offers cookie*

I agree with you, stereotypes are far overdone. The media has given us a bad name. I'm a lesbian, and those whom I've come out to have been highly surprised. They'd "never have guessed by looking" at me. I'm what most would consider a girly-girl, all 'oh, my God, I love those shoes!' to 'Oh, snap! I broke a nail.' It's just a part of who I am that I like girls...

This really touched me, I must say. Sometimes, I forget how truly hard it is to be homosexual. I've had a far easier coming out than I could have ever hoped for. Absolutely no one I've come out to has turned away from me, or acted differently around me. In fact, most were happy I shared that part of myself with them.

All of my friend's know I'm a dyke, as does most of the school and my mother. No one's had a problem.

My father is an obstacle I have yet to face, one that I'm afraid of, though. I tend to put it at the back of my mind, and keep putting off the inevitable.

My father loves me. I know that.

But he won't love that part of me, I don't think. He's never really been homophobic, but he's never been particularily accepting.

I know I've got it good, in those terms, especially compared to most others.

My step-mom, even, would convince my father around to accepting me, if it came down to it. She sees me as another of her children and she has said that she would accept any of the five of us if we were gay, so long as she got grandchildren. ("I'll love little, adopted Meng Shui as if he were my own child!" xD ;D)

I've got it easy. I know.

But in that, I hope to express hope to others, so others know, there are good people out there who can look past conformity.

I attended a strict private Catholic school from fifth through ninth grade. During that time I was taught so many cruel and negative things about homosexuals. The real horror was that I bought into it, becoming easily brainwashed. When I transferred to a public school and had my eyes opened to reality, I couldn't believe my own twisted opinions on homosexuals. I'm heterosexual, but I cannot even begin to imagine what life is like for a young homosexual child who is still open to influence. It's really disheartening sometimes when I think about it, hopefully the future will bring change.

Kudos to your work. The words flowed smoothly and I thought it was well constructed. ^_^b

You are a wordsmith.


My best friend, Matt, is gay. His family doesn't know and only his closest confidantes are aware. My uncle and an aunt and some family friends are also homosexual. Though I may never fully understand what your life is, you have opened the door to understanding for so many people throught simple words in "best words, best order" and I thank you for that. You are inspiring.

no shit!! i totally agree! ^^, like, someones sexual orientation is just another factor in their overall personality, like physical appearence or their favorite band. totally. woot! gay pride!! lol,
well, i wish u semi-trucks of luck for coming out to your parents, and... idk, just tell you love them, and that you hope they'll always love you. the guilt thing works, (lol!).
and ur right about the media thing, gay people on tv are no more realistic than the strait people! lol...
well, like, seriously, goodluck... (oh, i added u on myspace... just like now... hope thats okay... erm... yeah... im done making a fool out of myself now!)

I understand exactly how you feel. I am bisexual myself, and go to a Catholic school. It really bugs me when I have to sit through the stupid religion classes and hear my teacher talk about how homosexuality is a sin and suchlike. One of my best friends is gay, and my very best friend (who I have somewhat of a crush on) is bisexual. It especially hurts when this other one of my friends (who is a total homophobe) makes comments about my gay friend. I stand up for him, but the worst part is that if I came out to my friend he would do the same thing to me. Another thing that is awful is my parents. My mom told me that she "has gay friends" (yeah right) and "has no problem with their 'choice' but if I made that 'choice' I would be kicked out". That's the reason I haven't told her or my dad yet. He would be fine with it, I think, but my mother would literally disown me. Fortunately, I at least have friends and a sister who support me. Mostly. My sister thinks I am only pretending to be bisexual, or something like that.
Also, I agree with you about stereotyping. While my gay friend does indeed wear girls' pants and have long hair, there are other gay guys at my school who conform to the general idea of what is manly. I mean, just because I like girls and guys does not make me a slut, or mean that I am somehow less feminine. That's just stupid.
Anyways, your essays were awesome.

-B

I agree with you a hundred percent. I'm a girl, born in a world full of homophobics (including my family), and I just think it's disgusting. Not homosexuality, but more of what people think of it. I don't know why it's so hard to be accepted in society (probably religious reasons?) Well, I definitely know that my family isn't basing this on religious stuff.

I have a couple of bisexual friends and one gay friend, either way, when my bisexual friend hugs me, my other very homophobic friend assumes that I'm becoming bi or lesbian myself. He even once stated, "Are you sure about your orientation? You sure she's not influencing you? I mean, I don't have anything against it, but it's not right."
I thought to myself, I'm pretty sure what gender I find attracted to and nothing was wrong with a girl hugging another girl. I think it's just like when a guy does his hand shake-thing with his other guy friend...just a plain greeting.

Either way...England, Canada, and most part of the world accepts homosexuality; I'm just waiting for America to find it "acceptable." I sometimes roll my eyes, finding how stupid America can be with a lot of society stuff. Ah, life; full of racism, prejudice, and sexism...
Don't think it will ever change.

I've know three homosexual guys in my life, two of which were flamboyent and one is not. Every homosexual is different as you must know and so there is no way to blacket phrase all of them just by saying they are all flamboyent or they're all not flamboyent.
Trust me I do not believe that homosexuality is a chioce. The first homosexual I ever met I practically grew up with and he was flamboyent right from the get-go. Thank god his family respected this and even helped him with it.
Great work by the way. Very eloquent. ^.^

M...French fries...Oh. Huh? Oh, whoops! Sorry about that! Just lemme put these delictables away for future muching...La la la la la...

Okay. Sorry about that. Anyways, I just read your little essay majiber (yes, I go to school), and I would give you a big hug if I didn't have touching problems and you were her instead of us being on the opposite side of the world. Plus, I swear you could be on the debate team or something if you set your mind to it. And no, I'm not talking wrestling debates. (Ooh...Bad memories...) To look at your first entry as a writer, its convincing with feeling and just something wholly to read. I'm not sure if I made that understandable or not, but hell. You have your whole life ahead of you. You'll figure it out.

But I gotta' say...I do agree with you that being non-straight is not a choice, but I don't believe it's natural either. What's natural is to keep your species alive between two sexes. Preferences, attractions, and evyerhting like that is something completely different that probably results from some sort of influence or other. Like you said before, you don't just wake up and decide you homo. But if people were naturally born that way, then that's like saying I was born to like those little orange juice boxes and grilled cheese sandwiches, despite the fact that I'm well above that age. (Wipe that smile off your face.)

If anything, it's something compulsive. But I'm not closing my mind to your theory either, especially if you think about it hard enough, it might be true. And the complusions might come from influences or lack thereof. Like, your parents never really told you being gay was wrong and boom! Your dating the hottest jock in school and making the others incredibly jealous to the point where they look at you two, and go of crying in the bathroom (that's happened before believe it or not). Or maybe you just hung around more with your own gender than the other.

But whatever. I'm not going to argue anymore. We all got our opinions. Let's leave it at that. (That, and I'm a lzay fat-ass who really, REALLY wants to return to eating her fries...)

The second entry was excellent. Thank you for telling those bigots (gaves them the hairiest eye she could) out there that even non-straights are as equally as diverse as the rest of the world. I mean, can you imagine what kind of logic that is? That's like everyone who likes green is the same. F* that! Some of those green-lovers probably like it because it's the color or the forest-something they like-while some others like it because it's the color of their favorite jewel. A bit screwed up that way of thinking is, huh?

Anyways, you heard my bits on the main advice, but what struck me was probably the controversey.

Hm? What's that you say? No controversey. Au contraire my fellow non-straight! You said that people shouldn't care that you're a non-straight, yes?

Then why are you still hiding?

You were right. People should have pride. You should be able to tell people that you're gay, and then go on talking about that totally lame flick that you saw last Thursday unfazed. (Wait. Who's sees movies on a Thursday...?) As for your family...I take it you're nearly grown now, so you don't need to worry so much about finding a place to stay in case the worst-case-scenario does take place. But a funcitonal family should AT LEAST be able to accept it. They might not approve at all, but they shouldn't convert you and still love you. If they can't even do that, then that's not your family. Not your true emotional one anyway.

And although it's hard, it's just like back in the days of Martin Luther King Jr., Paul Robinson, and Malcolm X. They were the children of a revolution, so of course people are trying to bring them down and what not. But what would happen if one of them backed down? Then African americans wouldn't have their rights that they do today. It's the same with non-straights. We have to stick up for what we believe in, otherwise they may never be a future where everyone-black, white, asian, homo, straight, bi, red-hair, blonde-hair, skinny, fat-can all finally be able to dine at the same diners, and work at the same workplaces, without any hostility what. So. Ever. And, as a non-straight, you and I, when we believe we're ready, oughta' take those steps on up to it.

And when all else fails, I heard Canada's not all that bad of a place. (Ahahaha! Joking, joking.)

Well, anyway, that was a LOT longer than I thought it would ever be. But hell, I have nothing better to do. So...Back to those fries...

*opens the case*

HOLY FUDGERS! WHERE THE F* DID THEY GET TO?!?!?!

*sees a midget with big, long ears, curled shoes, and green clothes dash out of the room*

...

Turly moving to say the least. I can totally relate to everything you said in this essay. Another subject I would have like to see you touch on was homosexuality and the church, but the subjects you did talk about are all perfectly relevant.

i agree with you, but the homosexuals in my school are flamboyantly gay, like putting rainbows on their foreheads and saying fuck you if you don't accept me, so i dunno there are some. i hope you can tell your parents someday.

Try not to do things like say "a lot" in the same sentence as "aforementioned," it makes the essay amateurish. Not that the rest of it is particularly professional.

Oh wow, I absolutely love how genuine and powerful the moral of your message is and how honest you are and how effective the words you use to describle homosexuality.

I was raised Catholic but I never actually did what I was told (i.e, I swear a lot when made, I'm okay with abortion) and maybe it's just expected that guys and girls belong together, humans exist to procreate and for that, you need a sperm and an egg in a uterus but this is the modern 21st century and if love really is supposedly powerful enough to overcome barriers, then I think child sexual abuse and blood-related incest should cause more concern than an individual's sexual preference.

Do you mind if I ask how long you've known, or when you accepted, the fact that you're gay? I have never known a gay person, I had a bisexual friend but that was it, maybe people where I live are paranoid or shy about being gay but then again, I go to a private Catholic school and all the people there rub me off the wrong way. I guess I'm just not a traditional God believer. 3/10 males who say they're straight have had sexual encounters with someone from the same gender. There will always be racism, sexism, homophobia and taboo subjects in society but life goes on and wasting your time stewing in agony or silence worrying won't change anything.

Embrace life, have fun, personally, I find gay people a lot more understanding, open minded and more balanced in general than the ones who go around picking on people for being different.

I agree with you completly, because I know exactly how you feel. When I was young (and even when I grew up) all of my crushes were on guys. I'm fortunate that I have a brother and friends that support me, but telling my parents will be the hardest thing I'll ever do (in short: they're Christian). Reading this encouraged me because I know that I'm not the only one who feels the same way (of course I didn't think I was the only before, but reading exactly how I felt made me feel better).

~DiamondKing

I agree with you completely. I live in one of the most liberal places in the country, but it is still weird. i have told people, but a lot of people still do not accept it. like, my high school was all boys, and it was conservative as hell, along w/my mother and sister. point is, its very well written and many people can identify with this.