| I grew up in a family where my parents, and grandparents, had gay friends, and so it wasn't an issue. When I was in 7th grade, my family moved and I was not happy about having to change schools. On my first day, my homeroom teacher asked a boy in the class to 'show me around'. We became best friends from that day on. It was never discussed, even through high school, but it was obvious to all in our circle of friends that he was gay. We didn't care, and, honestly, neither did most other kids in our large h/s. He was a very popular kid in our year. Sadly, the worst treatment he received came from his religious parents who abandoned him when he was in college, and finally came out to them.
Having been involved in the arts/theatre community for such a long time, I have many close friends who happen to be gay. All four of my Ds have close gay friends, both male and female. It has been, as it was for me, just a normal part of their lives and not a big issue. Three of them had gay teachers in h/s, and the three college aged ones have certainly had gay profs in college. None of us sit idly by when people make hateful comments or slurs. |