Movies

Nov 30th, 2010 11:40 PM By Sara

My girlfriend and I went to the movies, Hollywood Blvd., with my best friend and her boyfriend. We were waiting for the movie to start, so we all hung out near the bar. My girlfriend was holding my hands and giving me little kisses. We were affectionate, but hugging and kissing only, we weren’t making out. Whereas, my best friend’s boyfriend was grabbing her butt and couldn’t keep his hands off her. (We were all right next to each other.)

This woman actually came up to my girlfriend and me and called us pigs and showed her disgust for us. My girlfriend, while walking to get into our movie, said, “Hey Sara…did you know we were pigs?” The woman heard her and was not happy. She came up to my girlfriend, grabbed her bag strap, jerked her backwards, and said, “You shouldn’t be doing that in front of children you bitch,” and then she threw my girlfriend forward which ended up pushing me as well. Now just so you know, the youngest “child” there was between the ages of 14 and 16 and it was her daughter.

The sad part is that the woman was not punished at all. She was still allowed to see her movie.

Its My Life

Nov 30th, 2010 11:37 PM By Megan

Nobody taught me how to see people the way I do. No one told me the way I see the world is wrong. I don’t see age, color, ethnicity or even sexual orientation. I see people from the inside, I see what is in their soul. I have never been prejudice against anybody, in fact I have friends that are from different backgrounds, race, religion, creed, and sexual orientation. I am 27 now going on 28, I have been a victim of a hate crime due to my own sexual orientation and to my religious views. I just hope that by the time my daughter, who is 2 1/2 now, grows up, she will be able to live in place where there is equality.

Hate Crimes Go UNPUNISHED in Tennessee!

Nov 30th, 2010 11:36 PM By Candi

On November 13, 2010, I returned home from being gone all day and it was already dark once I arrived. I noticed that someone had written on my sidewalk with sidewalk chalk and it said, “FAGS WELCOME—> QUEERS STAND HERE, (circled). to the left of that, they “attempted” to write “Lesbian”, I believe, yet it said, “Lesbian”. I have no clue who did this, nor do I associate with my neighbors at this apt. complex. NO ONE “knows” if I am gay or not by FACTS, but obviously, they’ve “assumed”. I feel anxious being there with someone and even more so by myself. I’m not backing down, but at the same time, I don’t want anyone after me, etc. I have lived here for years. WHY NOW?!

Always Have Your Pride

Nov 30th, 2010 11:32 PM By Monica

My name is Monica, and I am a heterosexual female with a loving partner. I give a damn about equality.

I live in Canada, where gay marriage is legalized, and I know that very few of the States in America have legalized gay marriage. This to me, is outrageous. I have always understood that every person on earth has the same rights as anyone else, and this right has been taken away from so many people. What I have done to support the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community around me is presenting at a middle school about homophobia and to show younger kids that it wasn’t okay. After the presentation, many kids were interested in what I had to say and wanted to learn more. Most children aren’t educated about homosexuality because parents are afraid it will “turn them gay.” I want to reach all the parents out there and teach them that equality is everywhere, and their kids need to see it.
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If You Can’t Trust Them Who Can You Trust?

Nov 30th, 2010 07:31 PM By Shantile

This story takes place sometime ago. I was 17 then and now I’m 29. I’m not sure if this is relates to anyone, but here it goes.

I have always known I was a lesbian, call it intuition. I remember as far back as when I was three telling my mom, “Mom…I’m going to marry a woman when I grow up.” She brushed it off as kids say the darnedest things. I grew up in a military household in which my mom married my step father and my sister’s natural father. I consider him my father none the less. We moved from Hawaii, to Kentucky, to California, and visited many more states.

I knew I was different when I kept noticing that I look at woman the way girls look at boys. Or the way boys look at girls. My childhood went on quite normal. I was more of an overachiever. I was always playing a sport and taking honor classes in school. I had a passion for art and high contact sports. It wasn’t until I hit high school that it was apparent what I really wanted….girls.
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My Daughter

Nov 30th, 2010 06:45 PM By Regina

About 4 years ago, my daughter and son were attending the local high school here in Jurupa Valley, CA. I got a call that my daughter was knocked down and hurt in front of the school, off school grounds on her way home.

Come to find out a “Christian” organization was protesting in front of the school about everything from abortion to gay rights. My daughter confronted one of them acknowledging she was bisexual and was thrown to the ground. I called the school and the police and NOTHING was done.

Well something was done. My daughter Erica started a GLBT tolerance club at the high school. Any student who felt they were being hassled because of who or what they were, had a place where people would listen and understand. I am so proud of my daughter. She is an amazing brave woman.

My Daughter

Nov 30th, 2010 06:12 PM By Mickey

When my daughter was 14, she told me she was a lesbian. I remember it well. I was not offended, or angry, or appalled. I loved my daughter, and that love is all that matters. Love and support are all that ever really matter.

When she was 21 she took me took to her bar, where I have met the most amazing friends. All gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgedner and they have all become my adopted family. I love each and every one of them.

Through the past seven years, I have went to the bar here, where we all live, so many times.I  hear the stories of hate and abuse from the peoples’ own families and it sickens me. How can you not love your child because of their sexual orientation?

I am a proud parent and proud supporter of my GLBT family. There is no reason for hate, or physical violence, we are all just trying to be who and what we are. I support their rights, to live, as married couples, to love and to work in a hate-free society.

A New Future

Nov 26th, 2010 07:22 PM By Sarah

I am a straight 17 year old, my goal in life was to be a surgeon so I could save lives. I just discovered this site and after reading these stories, I want do something about all this hate. Never have I judged a person for their being gay, bisexual, transgender, or anything that makes a person who they are, it just is not in my nature. Unfortunately, I have let society get the best of me by using words like “fag”. Now that I have come to realization with how serious these problems are, there is nothing more I would like to do than to fight the hate and get justice for all these people who so rightly deserve to walk in public with their head held high with pride for who they are.

I want to become a lawyer and dedicate my life to helping anyone in need of justice. To those who have been subject to violence or discrimination of any kind, and still brave the outside I admire you greatly. I want to help those who consider ending it all, the ones who hide who they are so they can keep the ones they love and not have to fear being killed. As much as I love medicine, I feel that by becoming a lawyer I can save more lives and make lives better by giving people what they deserve for their hatefulness.

Why Are We Afraid

Nov 26th, 2010 06:38 PM By Shawnise

I’ve never encountered a hate crime with my eyes, but I hear kids at school who flip out when the topic gay comes up. especially guys. I don’t understand how when a guy is in love with another guy boys all over want to stay far as possible from them but when its girl on girl every guy wants front row seats! I mean its the same damn thing but guys say its more attractive. Bull! and loads of it! you shouldn’t care what sex it is there in love! They should be allowed to sit out in the park bench without turning heads and hateful slurs. This world needs to face facts love is love no matter how its formed

Then there’s parents who try to bring there children in this saying, “what about the children? they shouldn’t see things like that.”

Well, what are you going to do shield them from the world and let them grow up confused of their surroundings there’s a lot worse things happening. What’s gonna happen when they see gore scenes, then what?! What are you going to tell them then? If your a good parent your going to be straight with your child and tell them all about the relationship between two of the same sex and to say that they wanted that and their happy being that and they shouldn’t discriminate. Because your views on things sometimes reflects through your child’s eyes.

In School…

Nov 08th, 2010 09:48 AM By Samantha

I was assaulted by a fellow classmate constantly after being accused of watching the other girls in the locker room before gym class. I was 13. I was insecure about my body so I chose to change in the stall rather than out in the open. She had accused me of watching them through the small gap in between the stall panels. After a few altercations in the classrooms and stairwells it escalated into a physical fight. She got up in my face and slammed my head off of the cement wall. My only retaliation, being the nerd I am and carrying all the books I needed for the day, I threw them at her as she was descending the stairs. I do not remember how, but she got me on the floor. She crawled on top of me and began punching me. She received a $165 fine and 5 days in ISS. So much for justice.