This is a very touching story about a man reflecting and comparing his years growing up gay

[kevinbgoode1]

and his observations of work today - and a connection to bullying. A touching story - it digs up some very mixed memories for me as well.

Like most children born in the Toronto suburbs during the 1970s, I was a first-generation Canadian. I was born in an Italian home. I was also gay.

By the time I had entered Grade 7, I was already isolated from my peers, who revelled in tormenting me. Being called a “faggot,” a “girl” and “it” were daily occurrences that I couldn’t escape. I spent my lunch hours alone at my desk, quietly eating the salami sandwich my mother haphazardly prepared for me each morning.

It was tough. Because I was gay and socially awkward, I felt for a long time that I had no value – that I was, as my classmates believed, worthless. There were no gay-straight alliances back then, and if you were openly gay you were a social pariah.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/facts-and-arguments/when-i-was-growing-up-gay-even-my-teachers-had-fun-tormenting-me/article14577963/

[xfundy]

1. I understand completely.

Kids today are often exposed to an even deeper level of hate, thanks to the True Christians™ spreading their Christian Love™ around.

At least some teachers are standing up to the assholes and protecting the kids.

[closeupready]

3. That's why I never cut fake Christians any slack. They don't give gay people a break,

why should I give THEM a break?

[dickthegrouch]

2. I grew up in a village of 600

My father was wonderful, once I told him when I was 16.
My high-school of 400 boys was pure torture.
I used to go to the library and read books in the psych section looking for anything positive about homosexuality.
It's a wonder I never considered suicide. My Dad gave me enough strength to shut all the negativity out and live as best I could.
Once I left for college and actually found other gay people who wanted to make things better as I did, I had found a home away from home. My first gay pride parade in 1976 was at once the most terrifying and liberating thing I could possibly do. Surrounded by supporters from that same college (even though none of them claimed to be gay) was the most satisfying emotional experience of my life up to that point.

[closeupready]

4. This is a touching and familiar story. Probably is to most of us.

I responded in my own way, by lifting weights. People kind of stopped picking on me then.

But I never forgot how cruel they were. I imagine Brian De Palma's "Carrie" gave a lot of us of that generation a boner - not just if you were awkward or ugly, but any misfit who was taunted.

K&R