–a heterosexual who’s not homophobic

I have no way to contact you, but I hope that you will come back to this website and read the comments, because I am SO proud of you for standing up for yourself!

The process of ‘coming out’ is THE great ‘litmus test’ Gays & Lesbians have to guide them during this difficult and confusing process.

What I mean by that, is that you will see other people’s TRUE colors during this process (and throughout your life.) Those that TRULY love you will still love you. And those who do not, or who were not TRUE friends will fall by the wayside.

And you will be a better person and have a far happier life WITHOUT those people. I promise you that.

I admire your courage, young lady! Be strong, be brave, and also, be SAFE. I don’t want to scare you, but you will surely encounter Heterosexuals along your path (and at 15, you probably already have)that wish you actual physical harm. Most will not act on that impulse, but MANY will. You must always be aware of your surroundings and of WHO is around you. (Jeez, can you believe I am actually talking about AMERICA, here???)

Heterosexuals, as I am sure you are learning, are not the kindest or most God-like people toward the very Gay & Lesbian children that THEY themselves created. I am not sure why, as I could never imagine having a child, then raising that child. And then spending the rest of my life making sure that the World degraded and abused my child because he or she turned out to be Gay or Lesbian. I will NEVER understand that. Nor do I wish to. I would never want to know what it feels like to have a heart capable of such evil. I only know that after 40 years of life, I have come to understand that being Gay or Lesbian is nothing less than a gift from God. I believe that Gays & Lesbians are chosen by HIM for this difficult life becasue HE knows that WE are the STRONGEST people on the Planet. I believe we are sent here by God to help teach people how to love one another. Right now, Heterosexuals are really failing on that count.

But with teens like you coming out at younger and younger ages, YOU, dear girl, are teaching people how to better themselves by dealing with a predjudice that God himself would NEVER approve of.

I wish you MUCH happiness and SUCCESS in your life. Your early self-acceptence regarding your sexuality will be one of many steps you will take in you life toward learning what EVERY human being was sent here to learn. And that is to love ourselves and each other.

Something tells me you just might get there!!!!

God Bless, and YOU GO GIRL!!!

http://scienceblogs.com/dispatches/2009/04/gay_marriage_religious_freedom.php

I really feel for the young woman in your post.

I blog about (among other things) private or independent schools, including Christian schools. There have been several cases of students being expelled for homosexual behavior.

Sometimes the parents or the student litigate

http://lizditz.typepad.com/i_speak_of_dreams/2005/12/expelled_for_ph.html

I wish the young woman the best.

I went to a Catholic School, and yes they can discriminate, because they are privately funded. It’s sad that bigotry is still alive and well in this Country, and it’s really sad that no one stops to think, that we are all different, and that someday, other groups of people will be hated, tormented, and discriminated against. It’s been going on since the beginning of mankind, and will probablly continue for as long as man exsists. It has happened because of Race, Sex, Religious Beleifs, and now Sexual Orientation, and I’m sure there are other forms of bigotry I didn’t mention.

Whatever you do, don’t give up. I was afraid to come out until I was 40. I lived most of my life alone, sometimes depressed, sometimes suicidal, and always sad. I was afraid to come out, and afraid to die alone. Things didn’t go well for me, when I first came out. I lost all my freinds, my parents dis-owned me. BUT, I felt like a major load had been lifted from my shoulders. For the first time in my life I felt like i had a chance for true happines, and then it happened…. I met THEE guy, my numero uno.

We live in Iowa, and it is NOW legal for us to get married, which we plan to do in October.

Just remember one thing… NEVER GIVE UP ON LOVE, it is out there, and life is so much easier to deal with when you have that special someone at your side..

Take Care.