markymarc1985
06-04-2008, 02:11 PM
How's everyone doing?
God, I wish I had found Soulforce earlier. Growing up, my father was a youth minister in a nondenominational evangelical church. Kinda sucked, I'm not gonna lie.
I knew I was different when I was 8 years old, showering at (get this) church camp with a few older counselors. Needless to say, I found the experience enjoyable.
Few years down the road, and I had a girlfriend (trying very hard to be a typical 16-year-old). We would make out on occasion, and I hated myself for pretending I was kissing Ewan McGregor. It was around this time that I began thinking about suicide.
When I was 18 and in my first semester of college, I wrote a paper for my English teacher about life in the closet. Even though I still hadn't admitted that I was gay (at least, out loud), I indirectly "outed" myself to her through this paper. I hadn't planned on telling anyone, but I thought that writing it down was harmless.
A few weeks later, and my family and I were travelling around Panama. One beautiful afternoon, while my mother and I were sunbathing on a dock in the Caribbean, I said that I had something I wanted to tell her, but wasn't sure how to go about it. She looked over and asked me if I was a mass-murderer. "Erm... no," I said. "But I do think I'm gay."
She was silent for a couple of seconds, probably gauging whether or not I was serious. When she decided I was, she just gave a little sigh and said "Oh, well. At least we can see musicals and go shopping together now."
If I had expected my mother to be unhappy, I surely expected my father to go (pardon the expression) ape-shit at the news. Turns out, people rarely react the way you expect them to. My dad, Preacher Extraordinare, was quiet for a few minutes. When he had recovered from the initial shock, he told me as firmly as possible that "no matter what, you are my son and I'll love and respect you forever." Whew.
So, erm... that's that. I'd be interested in hearing other people's stories. I'm currently writing a play on coming out, and I'd like to get some more ideas.
If anyone wishes to know, I live in Batavia, IL (it's a west burb of Chicago).
Peace!
-Marcus
God, I wish I had found Soulforce earlier. Growing up, my father was a youth minister in a nondenominational evangelical church. Kinda sucked, I'm not gonna lie.
I knew I was different when I was 8 years old, showering at (get this) church camp with a few older counselors. Needless to say, I found the experience enjoyable.
Few years down the road, and I had a girlfriend (trying very hard to be a typical 16-year-old). We would make out on occasion, and I hated myself for pretending I was kissing Ewan McGregor. It was around this time that I began thinking about suicide.
When I was 18 and in my first semester of college, I wrote a paper for my English teacher about life in the closet. Even though I still hadn't admitted that I was gay (at least, out loud), I indirectly "outed" myself to her through this paper. I hadn't planned on telling anyone, but I thought that writing it down was harmless.
A few weeks later, and my family and I were travelling around Panama. One beautiful afternoon, while my mother and I were sunbathing on a dock in the Caribbean, I said that I had something I wanted to tell her, but wasn't sure how to go about it. She looked over and asked me if I was a mass-murderer. "Erm... no," I said. "But I do think I'm gay."
She was silent for a couple of seconds, probably gauging whether or not I was serious. When she decided I was, she just gave a little sigh and said "Oh, well. At least we can see musicals and go shopping together now."
If I had expected my mother to be unhappy, I surely expected my father to go (pardon the expression) ape-shit at the news. Turns out, people rarely react the way you expect them to. My dad, Preacher Extraordinare, was quiet for a few minutes. When he had recovered from the initial shock, he told me as firmly as possible that "no matter what, you are my son and I'll love and respect you forever." Whew.
So, erm... that's that. I'd be interested in hearing other people's stories. I'm currently writing a play on coming out, and I'd like to get some more ideas.
If anyone wishes to know, I live in Batavia, IL (it's a west burb of Chicago).
Peace!
-Marcus