#Child
#discrimination
#everyone
#fact
#friend
#Grade
#lesbian
#lot
#rejection
#sleepover
#true self
#way
#world
4 May 2007

Story - Accepting me for who I am

I never really thought about it as a child. In fact, my parents kept me away from the real world. I didn’t find out a lot of things until I was in gr. 4 and some of the older grade girls would tell me about stuff. I never even gave a thought to the gay community until I was in gr. 8.

AlterHéros

In gr. 8, I started to mature and I actually began to understand the world. I started to campaign for human’s rights, animal’s rights, and women’s rights. I wrote letters, I signed petitions. I was a grassroots activist, all right. I still am. When I entered gr. 9, I found out that my old friend (who is 3 years older than me) is a lesbian. It never occurred to me that anyone I knew could be a lesbian. Then I started to look around me. There was so much discrimination against homosexuals. One of my friends is an extremely religious person. She went around with a petition to ban gay marriage! I began to realize that this discrimination couldn’t be right. So I began to stand up — in my own way. When someone said “gay” as a synonym for “stupid,” I’d explain to them why it was wrong to say something like that. I’m sure I’ve influenced lots of my friends and others around me, in small ways, just like that.

Then, about 3 or 4 months ago, I began to have feelings for girls. I guess I was “questioning.” I wasn’t entirely sure why I was having these feelings. But, at the same time, I was still attracted to guys! I was confused. Now I know that I’m a bisexual, and I can accept it. I’m perfectly fine with it. In fact, I’m happy that I’ve found my true self.

Now there’s only the problem of telling my parents and my friends. I was having a sleepover with my friend awhile ago, and we were playing Truth or Dare. She told me that if I was a lesbian, or was in some way attracted to girls, she’d probably be uncomfortable with me — she said she wouldn’t really want to have sleepovers anymore. I was confused, but now I know that I have to change that type of attitude. When I come out, I really want everyone to know and everyone to accept it. I know some people will reject me, but so what? If they do, they aren’t my true friends.

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