My Real Family
Feb 27th, 2012 03:20 PM By GoldieI realized that I was different when I was 13. I thought about women in sexual and emotional ways, and it felt natural to me. I didn’t know the term bisexual until I was a little older. It was exciting, putting a name to an important part of me. I kept my sexuality a secret through the rest of high school, although I was often accussed of being a lesbian. I lied about my sexuality for 6 years until I was confronted by a friend. She asked me if I was gay, and if so, she would support me. I told her the truth, and it felt so good to finally tell someone.
I decided to tell everyone else in my life. Everyone’s reactions were different. My boyfriend cried, fearful that suddenly he wouldn’t be enough for me. My best friend bought me a rainbow flag for my car. Others simply said, “I knew it. You suck at keeping secrets.” The only people I haven’t told is my family. My family believes in equality for all, but they make crass gay jokes that make me feel uncomfortable to tell them the truth.
It was then that I realized my real family wasn’t a group of people who made hurtful comments. My real family was my friends who don’t mind if I make comments on cute girls walking by and my boyfriend who helped me work through my emotions as I helped him understand that being bisexual didn’t mean I was leaving him for a girl. I’m 20 years old now and working my way through college to become a special educations teacher. Coming out was the best thing I’ve ever done.
The Story I Am Sharing
Oct 11th, 2011 05:23 PM By RobI care about equality, but the reason I joined this site today was Ms. Lauper’s essay on Huffington Post today about homeless youth and the prevalence of LGBTQ youth in the homeless population.
I work as a case manager for a program in NYC called HASA. It’s a city agency that provides case management and financial assistance, among other things, to low income adults and children with HIV. On my caseload there are men and women from 19 to 70 who are struggling to live their lives with HIV. Some of my younger clients have spent time on the streets and there are many who left home at a young age because of discrimination and abuse directly related to their gender or their sexuality.
So I am for equality wholeheartedly. I joined today because I completely agree with Cyndi that people need to know that there are children who need a lot of help. I believe that parents of children who are dealing with issues of gender and sexuality also need help to better address the needs of their LGBTQ children.
WHY CYNDI LAUPER GIVES A DAMN ABOUT HOMELESS YOUTH
Oct 11th, 2011 04:45 PM By AdminToday is National Coming Out Day! It is a time for all of us – straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender – to speak up about why we support equality. It is a time to let the people in your life know why you give a damn.
Give a Damn Campaign founder Cyndi Lauper wanted to share with you one of the reasons why she cares. It is an issue that has not received enough attention and resources. It is gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth experiencing homelessness.
In honor of National Coming Out Day, the Huffington Post posted an Op-Ed she wrote about why she gives a damn about helping these brave young people. Here is just the start of what she had to say:
Twenty to 40 percent of homeless youth identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, yet only 3 to 5 percent of the general population does the same. Shock was the first thing I felt when I heard this statistic, and then sadness that there are so many young people who are either thrown out of their homes or run away out of fear and despair because they are gay or transgender.
But, while the disproportionate numbers are disheartening, what really matters and makes a significant impact are the young people themselves, their struggles and their desire to live a life that they dream about and deserve to live…
Please take a moment to read her story and take action yourself. Share the post with your family and friends on Facebook and Twitter, or just forward this email, so they can get informed and get involved as well.
GET INFORMED, GET INVOLVED
- Read Cyndi’s Op-Ed
- Learn more about Youth | Homelessness
If we all join together we can make a difference.
DONATE YOUR FACEBOOK STATUS TODAY FOR NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY
Oct 11th, 2011 11:21 AM By Admin
Today is National Coming Out Day!! Let the people in your life know that you are a supporter – straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender – of equality by donating your Facebook status. It is easy, our friends at the Human Rights Campaign have a very easy to use App to help you out.
Donate your Status
Share why gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality is important to you today by raising awareness on National Coming Out Day. Your courage to speak out – today and every day of the year – can spark countless conversations about equality and help change hearts and minds.
GET INFORMED, GET INVOLVED
UPDATE ON THE VIDEO OF SOLDIER WHO CAME OUT TO FATHER YESTERDAY
Sep 21st, 2011 11:59 AM By AdminHere is an update on the powerful video we posted yesterday of the soldier – Randy Phillips – who came out to his father on the day the ban on gays in the military came to an end.
ABC News tells his story and interviewed him this morning:
GET INFORMED, GET INVOLVED
- Learn more about Family Acceptance
POWERFUL VIDEO: SOLDIER COMES OUT TO FATHER NOW THAT “DON’T ASK, DON’T TELL” HAS ENDED
Sep 20th, 2011 01:30 PM By AdminComing out of the closet to your family is one of the scariest and most meaningful experiences a gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender person can have.
The following is a powerful video posted by a soldier who came out to his father today, on the day that the ban on gays in the military – “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” – came to an end.
We thank him for sharing this personal and heartwarming experience with us all as a beautiful example of what family acceptance is all about.
GET INFORMED, GET INVOLVED
- Learn more about Family Acceptance
God is Love…
Sep 19th, 2011 11:31 AM By WendyI grew up believing that gay men and women had a choice. That choice was to either accept that men and women were made and meant to be together and that marriage was a sacred bond between a man and a woman or they would be doomed to everlasting damnation.
I didn’t believe that men should have these “feelings of inappropriate love” towards other men and the same with women. I knew that if I could squelch my own personal crushes for boys in High School and Jr. High, that a gay man or woman could and should, do the same.
I trusted what my parents taught me was correct, because I thought true happiness started with a marriage between one man and one woman, in a sacred ceremony. I was so adamant about my stand on gay marriage that I lost touch with close friends who didn’t feel the same way I did.
I didn’t realize I had lost touch with so many friends due to my perspective on the matter. It was not until years later when I ran into an old friend from college who told me the way he felt over my rants in regards to the LGBT community. I was surprised and humbled over his admission and complete candor to my utter disregard to the way he may have felt, we were very good friends in college.
more…
KATE WINSLET SAYS IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE TO HER IF HER SON IS GAY
Sep 12th, 2011 03:48 PM By Admin
In the new issue of V Magazine, Oscar winner Kate Winslet shares how it makes no difference to her if her son is straight or gay. We applaud Kate for being such a wonderful role model and parent. Here is an excerpt from her interview:
“I like the diversity that my children are exposed to every day. I love the way their brains work. Joe [her son] turns to me the other day and says, ‘One day, I will have a girlfriend. But I might have a boyfriend. If I’m gay.’ He’s 7! And I said, ‘You might have a girlfriend or a boyfriend, darling.’ And he said, ‘Which would you prefer?’ And I said, ‘My love, that would be entirely up to you, and it doesn’t make any difference to me.’ But that he knows! It’s a real privilege. Talk about the best education.”
GET INFORMED, GET INVOLVED
- Learn more about Family Acceptance
Being Rejected by Elders
Sep 07th, 2011 12:16 PM By Monte PalmerI’m 15 and gay living in southern New Mexico. I was seeing a psychologist for a while and after some reports to the Child, Youth, and Families Department, I was sentenced to 3 months in Treatment Foster Care to be away from my parents for some time. I was told I would be there for years before they released me. I was put into an anti-gay Christian family that would always bother me and tell me I chose to be gay. I told them that in my head it isn’t a choice and they said then somebody at Families & Youth Inc. is forcing me to be gay by what I’m saying.
I told my therapist what they said to me and he told the supervisor at Families & Youth Inc. who had a talk with my foster parents. My foster mom came home telling me she has lost a lot of feeling for me and any kids who say negative things about her. She said she will refrain from taking me out to places and she did for a long time. They made up an excuse that I seem too depressed to bother going out.
On my way out of the foster home, my foster mom gave my mom a note telling her that I was gay. I snatched it from her hand, crumbled it up, and threw it in the street before getting in the car back home. My foster parents didn’t even say bye. All I wanted was somebody to love me for who I am.
It Doesn’t Run in the Family
Sep 06th, 2011 12:09 PM By PiaI give a damn for the people who can’t even come out to the people who, supposedly, will love them no matter what happens.
I’m sharing my story to let other people know, whoever is experiencing the same thing, that you’re not alone.
A couple of months ago I invited my partner to sleep over because we had an exam to study for, which required more than just a few hours of studying. Everything was normal until my mom and my brother came home from work and my mom suddenly called me to the other room to talk.
She immediately asked me who I was with. Out of nervousness, I told her that she was just a friend who tutors me [which is also true]. Then my mom told me how she and my brother tolerate gay people just as long as it’s not one of the family. They told me “being gay is not in our genes” and my mom said she would not tolerate me being a lesbian.
What hurts more is when she said that my “friend” could just be into me because of our financial status. She said I could be easily manipulated into falling in love because the probability of finding a lesbian partner is unlikely so my partner could just be using this feeling to her advantage–which I think is impossible because my partner is actually two years older than me, works at a well-known international company, and even pays for her own college tuition.
It hurts because this is coming from the people whom you loved first. This is coming from the people who told me to love each member of the family regardless of their attitude problems. I don’t hate them. In fact, the reason why it hurts is because I love them, and as much as I want to run away because they’ll basically hate me if I ever come out to them, I still can’t because I love my mom too much to make her worry.
And lastly, it hurts because even my family can’t see that WE are just like everybody else. We’re humans, we have feelings too. It’s just that we’re not attracted to the opposite sex. I just wish my family would realize that.
