Some years ago, I made a resolution of sorts. Not the New Year's variety that are made to be broken. Nor the type that one makes in a sudden moment of inspiration or heroism. It crept upon me slowly as I started on the necessary quest to discover who I really am. For most of my life, I had played a role so that people would like me, and I wouldn't end up alone.
Horribly cliche, I know.
Still, it became a vow of sorts that I would be true to myself. (Or at least those aspects of myself that I managed to salvage.) A majour part of that has been admitting to myself that I am gay... and that's a helluva lot harder than you might think it is. I don't walk around with the word 'DYKE' tattooed on my forehead, but when asked directly about my sexuality, I bite the bullet and tell the truth.
Most of the time, that is.
I failed again, and now I feel... I'm not sure. Dirty and frustrated and disappointed and disgusted. I should be able to admit to this. It's not as if homosexuality is bad. (And perhaps if I keep telling myself that, I'll believe it someday and all this self-loathing will go away.)
A few friends I've made invited me to a party of sorts. It started at the local gay bar where two of them work, and when the place closed for the night (morning... it was around two a.m.) we headed over to their apartment.
I think almost everyone there was either gay or bi. This is somewhat important to note, because I've always felt more comfortable around queers. ("Birds of a feather flock together" and all that jazz.) I enjoyed myself imensely and finally stumbled home at about 6:30 in the morning.
I woke up with just enough time to clean up and get to work at 4:30 p.m. where one of the other servers asked me if I was sick. There's been a bug going around, and some of the other employees were feeling run down. With a lopsided grin, I informed her that I was perfectly healthy, just slightly hung-over.
So of course, she asked me if I had fun, and what did I do that kept me out so late? After giving her a brief rundown, I laughed and commented, "There's nothing quite like getting drunk and playing truth-or-dare with a bunch of flaming queens."
I had mentioned having gay friends before, and she never took the matter further. However, this time she asked that inevitable question: "Are you gay?"
I... froze up, although I'm not sure if the terror I felt was visible on my face. Before I could figure out if I could trust her, I heard myself saying, "No."
Why do I have to make such a big deal out of this? Why does anyone, for that matter? Why do we care so much about something so trivial?
"It is better to be hated for who you are than loved for who you are not."
But I don't like being hated. It's one of those emotions that hangs in the air and makes me sick to my stomach. So I once again compromised my ideals for my own comfort. I've failed once again.
Telling classmates and teachers doesn't bother me nearly as much. Perhaps because I know that I'll only see them for the semester. Perhaps because I didn't know any of them before that moment.
Admitting it online... was a lot harder at first than I thought. I did get to know a lot of you before I was out of the closet, and part of me was certain that once I admitted it in a LJ entry, I would find my 'friend of' list empty by the next day. (Hey, it wouldn't be the first time someone abandoned me because I came out to him/her.)
I still haven't told my family, and you have no idea how guilty I feel about that. I want to. Every time I try to, though, the words stick in my throat and a wave of anxiety overtakes me. Oh, I know they suspect... my sister asked me outright one day. (And while I wasn't able to bring myself to lie to her, I didn't acknowledge it either.) My parents have hinted at the subject to me on more than one occasion.
I'm trying to like myself better... but it's much harder than it seemed at first.
On the plus side, there are much worse parts of the country than Michigan. My friend in Virginia was telling me the other day how astounded she has been at all the homophobic comments she hears. Then again, she's in a Military town, so that may be part of it.
Thanks for the comfort, though... I really needed it. (And a letter, yay! ^^)
I have to admit, I'm a bit surprised that you have this problem. I didn't realise you had such self-loathing issues. :( I'm sorry. But it's completely understandable that you didn't tell your co-worker. Would you consider her a friend? Did she even have any right to ask such a personal question? I know it sounds cliched... but if you don't feel comfortable telling anyone, you shouldn't feel bad about it. There will be a time when you'll be able to.
What does living in a military town have to do with homophobia? Having grown up as an Army brat for the first 16 years of my life, from my experiences I've found military communities to be pretty open-minded. Especially military people that have lived overseas for many years, they become far more at ease with different people, cultures, etc. My father, a 30-year Army vet is one of the most open-minded people I know.
Anyway... you need to come here to the west coast! :)
Well, I've been hearing terms like "fag", "homo", "queer" and "that's so gay" used as insults since before I knew what a homosexual really was. After a while, it sinks into your unconscious mind that this is something bad. It certainly doesn't make things much easier, that's for sure. It's contradictory, I know. It's so much easier to look at the subject from a distance, though, than to actually live through it.
I don't know if I'd consider that coworker a friend, although I certainly get along with her all right. And a lot of people don't seem to consider that a personal question. Almost every time that I tell someone that I'm a member of my school's GSA (Gay-Straight Alliance), that's the first question they ask. (Which is annoying, because it simply perpetuates the idea that GSAs are "gay clubs", and they're not.)
True... although there still is that whole thing about people not wanting gays in the Military. (Which has been a majour reason for why I haven't joined the Coast Guard.) A lot of the homophobic comments my friend hears are from Military personel, though... Then again, that area may simply be more conservative. Don't worry... I know enough open-minded Military people that I'm not going to label them all homophobic. I was just stressed and not thinking when I typed that. Thanks for pointing it out ^_^
It's always the direct questions that are so hard, yes? The ones you can't fudge. I feel guilty when I fudge... and am probably going to remedy the fudging soon. For some reason, it's harder to tell some people than others. The ones who don't really need to know, the ones you know you'll likely never see again... They're easy. They're the ones you feel you can afford to lose. I am bisexual. I have been asked if I was a lesbian several times, and answered quite honestly "no," without elaboration (though once I was very tempted to say 'yes,' and hope that would make him leave me ALONE...) I was nailed by a direct question once... and I think the panic-response is some stupid thing the evil little voice in us does by hitting some big red button. There's no other real explanation. Luckily, the other voices reminded me sternly that I had vowed to Not Lie. So I didn't, and answered. Directly. Nothing came of it. She (and her husband, because he was the one who started the conversation that spawned the question) were just curious. To them, it was like asking my favorite color.
As for my family... my brother will be weirded out. He's a young teenage boy, that's normal. My mother loves me, and while it matters, it doesn't matter. Daddy... is just Daddy. He loves me, too. So it will be okay. All the rest of my family- well, my mother is a wonderful person who would handle all that FOR me unless I asked her not to. I know for a fact that my grandparents will not be told, and one of my aunts won't be told until after the death of said grandparents, since she's only slightly better than a talkative and unintelligent parrot when it comes to keeping secrets.
I suppose the point is that while I haven't TOLD anyone, no one's asked the right question. I do know I'll tell my mother before I bring home a girlfriend _or_ boyfriend... though the way that goes I'll be thirty first, and definitely say something first. Maybe you've just inspired me...
For most people, my answer to the question is that if he/she isn't interested in dating me, isn't family (or a friend that close), then he/she really doesn't need to know, because it shouldn't matter. It helps that I am tall and have finally learned how to give people the Disapproving Mother Look.
I know the point is that fear sucks, and you'll feel bad until you tell your coworker you lied. Tell her it was a habit/conditioned response you're trying to break, and that I will hit her with a shovel if she gets weird. While giving her the Disapproving Mother Look.
I know my (immediate) family would have no problems with it whatsoever. (As much as people may insult liberals and hippies, I wouldn't trade my family for the world.) In a way, that almost makes me feel more guilty. If I knew they would get pissed and kick me out, I'd have a reason to stay in the closet. But they're so laid back about it that I know I can trust them.
*sigh* I suppose I'll get it out someday, eh? ^^;;;
Although, part of the reason I think I lied to my coworker is because I don't want that knowledge getting around the store. Not only does my sister work there, (And I'd rather that she hear it from me instead of a second-hand source.) but there are some homophobic people working there. Quite frankly, I just don't feel like getting into an argument with them.
**hug** I understand not wanting to come out to your co-woker. What if the react negativly? Will they tell others? Will I loose my job and be branded as something horrible? And logically sometimes it doesn't matter what others think, but deep in your heart you know you care. And sometime you fear as well, like you said you heard such things as 'fag' for insults for so long. Maybe you fear someone will harm you physically if not emotionaly. But remember, I have gotten to know you if not well, then enough to know that I like you. I don't care what your religion/sexual preferance/race/gender is because YOU are an intersting person. YOU stand up for your beleifs. YOU care about other people enough, even total strangers over LJ, to try and pick them up when they are feeling down. YOU have several wonderful redeeming qualites that make you a wonderful, special person. I like YOU for You. Try not to beat yourself up too much ;)
...especially since, under Michigan law, I could legally be fired for being gay. (I met someone the other day who has lost two jobs because he came out to a coworker.) If jobs were more plentiful, I might not care too much, but I need the money. It just makes things all the more complicated.
And thanks for reminding me that there are still good people out there ^_^
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I know how hard it would be for you, specially considering the part of the country you live in, and I don't know if I could do it myself.
You are a wondrous person. Homosexuality is not bad, and you're not bad for being a homosexual.
Also, George W. Bush is a chimp, and I mailed your letter today. ON PIRATE PAPER, NO LESS.
¬
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What does living in a military town have to do with homophobia? Having grown up as an Army brat for the first 16 years of my life, from my experiences I've found military communities to be pretty open-minded. Especially military people that have lived overseas for many years, they become far more at ease with different people, cultures, etc. My father, a 30-year Army vet is one of the most open-minded people I know.
Anyway... you need to come here to the west coast! :)
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I feel guilty when I fudge... and am probably going to remedy the fudging soon.
For some reason, it's harder to tell some people than others. The ones who don't really need to know, the ones you know you'll likely never see again... They're easy. They're the ones you feel you can afford to lose.
I am bisexual. I have been asked if I was a lesbian several times, and answered quite honestly "no," without elaboration (though once I was very tempted to say 'yes,' and hope that would make him leave me ALONE...)
I was nailed by a direct question once... and I think the panic-response is some stupid thing the evil little voice in us does by hitting some big red button. There's no other real explanation. Luckily, the other voices reminded me sternly that I had vowed to Not Lie.
So I didn't, and answered. Directly.
Nothing came of it. She (and her husband, because he was the one who started the conversation that spawned the question) were just curious. To them, it was like asking my favorite color.
As for my family... my brother will be weirded out. He's a young teenage boy, that's normal. My mother loves me, and while it matters, it doesn't matter. Daddy... is just Daddy. He loves me, too. So it will be okay. All the rest of my family- well, my mother is a wonderful person who would handle all that FOR me unless I asked her not to.
I know for a fact that my grandparents will not be told, and one of my aunts won't be told until after the death of said grandparents, since she's only slightly better than a talkative and unintelligent parrot when it comes to keeping secrets.
I suppose the point is that while I haven't TOLD anyone, no one's asked the right question. I do know I'll tell my mother before I bring home a girlfriend _or_ boyfriend... though the way that goes I'll be thirty first, and definitely say something first.
Maybe you've just inspired me...
For most people, my answer to the question is that if he/she isn't interested in dating me, isn't family (or a friend that close), then he/she really doesn't need to know, because it shouldn't matter.
It helps that I am tall and have finally learned how to give people the Disapproving Mother Look.
I know the point is that fear sucks, and you'll feel bad until you tell your coworker you lied. Tell her it was a habit/conditioned response you're trying to break, and that I will hit her with a shovel if she gets weird. While giving her the Disapproving Mother Look.
no subject
A bit late
And logically sometimes it doesn't matter what others think, but deep in your heart you know you care. And sometime you fear as well, like you said you heard such things as 'fag' for insults for so long. Maybe you fear someone will harm you physically if not emotionaly.
But remember, I have gotten to know you if not well, then enough to know that I like you. I don't care what your religion/sexual preferance/race/gender is because YOU are an intersting person. YOU stand up for your beleifs. YOU care about other people enough, even total strangers over LJ, to try and pick them up when they are feeling down. YOU have several wonderful redeeming qualites that make you a wonderful, special person. I like YOU for You. Try not to beat yourself up too much ;)
But Better than Never
Re: But Better than Never