[dustinsugg]

Hi, My Name is Dustin, I am on here in search of support. I am a 23 year old gay man living in Southeast missouri. I guess you could say I am partially out of the closet because many of my friends know, but my family does not. I am tired of living this secret life. Everyone always wants to know why I am so secretive about everything and why I am so irritable all the time and its because I feel like I cannot be my true self around them.
Southeast Missouri is not a very good place to be out. There is a lot of hate here for people who are gay or of a different race. I have heard there are still active KKK groups here. Its very scary to think about! My moms family would love and accept me, but not be very happy with the idea. I have a cousin who is out and I know how they feel about it. They still welcome him with love and open arms but do not like or accept his lifestyle. My dads family would go totally crazy. They are very closed minded and hypocritical. Not very accepting of the idea of being gay.
I found this organization and felt I had found a new hope. I want to improve myself and move foward with my life as well as help others in my home area that are dealing with the same thing. I would love to help the people here understand that this is the way we are born and you should still treat us the same as u do anyone else and I think with the help of Soulforce I can do that.
So, I am here, I hope to meet some awesome people and make some great new lifelong friends. And hopefully with the support and strength I gain from here I can find someone to love who will in return love me because I am so tired of this lonely feeling I have inside. I have prayed many time for God to guide me and help make me feel whole and I belive that he sent me here. So please dont hesitate to ask me questions and give me advise!

Thank you,
Dustin