Growing up, I knew I was different, but I could not explain why.

Most of my male peers were interested

in soccer, Power Rangers, and girls. I was not. At a young age, I realized I was attracted to other boys. As
I approach adulthood, I was surrounded by images, comments, and information that contradicted what I
felt inside. I felt invisible. Without anyone to confide in, my self-image took a huge beating. I constantly
put myself down. But deep down, I knew I was here for a reason, I knew I had to pull myself out of the
feeling of uselessness that had come over me.

As I pondered these thoughts, I came to understand that the world was filled with hatred—the same
hatred that had been directed toward me. I also realized that being gay is how I was born, not
something I chose. I began to understand that I needed to accept myself. I needed to love myself. I
needed to set myself free. Once I came out to myself, I was able to do those things, my life became
easier and began to love who I was and who I could be. And when I gained the courage to come out to
others, I found that, it made no difference. True friends love you for who you are and accept all the
things that make you. I was put through so much pain because I was strong enough to overcome it.
Instead of remaining bitter, I chose to be kind.

Though this realization was a relief, it brought me to an extremely difficult decision: I could either
continue living a lie and living in fear, or I could come out. In the end, I decided that coming to terms
with being gay was more important and more conducive to removing hatred from the world. I could live
in real truth. As a result, I created new friendships with people who loved and accepted me for who I
was. These new friends cared about me. All of the things I had once prayed for I was now living.