| Class of 75, Catholic, anti-gay from high school through college mainly due to two incidences. Once after leaving a tough track practice, I was walking home. I lived about 3miles from school. A car passed by and stopped, I recognized the student from school. He was a senior but I did not know him by name. He offered me a ride and I was exhausted. I was just a sophmore. On the ride home he reached over and put his hand on my leg. At first I was scared then I got mad. He apologized and continued to ride me home. He talked the rest of the way I was oblivious. My anger helped me to tuned him out. Before ,I left the car he exhorted If you should ever change your mind. I couldn't believe it. I went inside and told my mom. She became angrier than me. Because, I wasn't totally sure who this person was I did not press the issue.
The second issue took place in a college library restroom. While taking care of business. I notice a particular graffiti message amongst several scrawled on the stall. The message was explicit and below it happened to be that day's date. Before I knew it I looked up and to my shock peek-a-boo. The guy from the stall next to me was peering down. These were the only times I used the word faggot. As I continued my education, I began to meet other gays. It took a while before I realized not all gay people were perverts. If someone had a similar experience, I can see how discrimination begins. If they could not make the same distinction that took me several years to make! |