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16 Aug 2010: I just wanted to send you a message and say thank you for the help. I came out about being a bisexual teen boy and I had poor judgement and told my girlfriend first and then she told every one at school and eventually I started skipping classes as a result of bullying over my sexual preference and then one day a friend of mine who is also bisexual told me about your site and I checked it out and realized I'm not going to throw all my hard work away because of some person I thought I could trust so I guess in a way this site has saved my high school career and I can't thank you enough for that. |
Mr Charles
18 Apr 2010 I'm a sophomore in high school who is a part of the Speech Team which competes regularly in profesional (formal) and interpretive (acting) speech competitions. This year, I competed in HDA (Humurous Duet Acting) with a friend using a piece called "Mr. Charles, Currently of Palm Beach" which was written by Paul Rudnick. This play is about Mr. Charles, a middle-aged, flamboyantly homosexual man who has his own public access show. The play is all satire, written by a gay man for gay people, showcasing the stereotypes and laughing at them. My partner and I were recognized as "the gus who do the gay-play" and people loved it. They laughed (our coach is a little too happy about it) and enjoyed it everytime. So, seeing the success in a competitive setting, we wanted to show our school. Now, the rules of the competition say that if the school finds it appropriate then we may compete with it. Since we competed with it there was obviously no objections, but when brought to the people at
school who were setting up for a week-long showcase of the arts, we were rejected. For the longest time there was simply no response, but when the time came, it was clear that "Mr. Charles" would not be appearing on stage. My partner and I, though a little grateful at ending our year-and-a-half with the piece, were a little discouraged and disappointed at the fact that our school could hold a "End The Word" campaign several weeks before the showcase to promote ending the usage of the word "retard" in everyday language, and coudln't show a "gay play." Maybe the average high school isn't ready, but with people going around calling each other "faggots" and accusing others of being gay maybe there NEEDS to be something to show them that gay people can be proud. I personally am currently coming out. It's been a long process considering the atmosphere I have at home, but I have no problem sharing my sexuality at school or in public places. I feel like I need to tell someone about what happened
to "Mr. Charles" to show that more acceptance is needed earlier on. Without acceptance only more pain can surface. If you could help, any advice would be welcomed. And to all of you who are still in high school and aren't sure of yourself or feel like everyone isn't mature or whatever: hang in there, because there's support all around.
Holding On, Myself,
Erin AKA Mr. Charles
Schaumburg/USA |
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09 Mar 2010
Hi, I am currently the representative for my school's GSA, so I am the one that gets to run around to different meetings in the community to talk about different issues, and how to better support the GLBT members of our community. Right now, I am working on a program to put in schools that will help future GLB students to feel more safe at school. Hopefully it will reduce the risk of depression, suicide, ect. because in the program, I am designing a binder councelers would be required to have in there office's full of information for GLB students who face common struggles. For example, it would have handouts for the students with numbers to hotlines they can call, a list of staff members who would be willing to talk to them, and a list of websites they can go to for help. I came across your website, and I think it is a wonderful community, because not only does it have advice and news, but it also has fun things such as fashion advice. If you don't mind, I would like to put this website on my list, but I want your confirmation first. (keep in mind that I have a lot to do in order to promote this program, and actually getting it into the school system will be very difficult, so it may not be excepted. But it would still be nice to have a solid list of websites for the councler to give to the student in need (if all goes well) :))
Thanks for all your help! (Note: We gave him permission.)
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20 Dec 09: Well everyone, I haven't been on this website for a while now, and thought I'd come back, just for a second, to sort of "make peace" with it. I know it sounds weird, but the forum used to be somewhat of a life-savor. I remember finding this place, my freshman year of high school, and instantly feeling so much less alone. It was fantastic to have people I could connect with and not have to fear judgement. We all can understand what everyone else here is going through. I guess if I've learned since freshman year, here are the things I learned.
1) Don't be afraid to be yourself. People begin to appreciate you so much more than when you were faking it. Maybe don't come out in high school if you know it will make things harder, but definitely afterward in college.
2) Don't be depressed. It's often a choice. Just because you're a minority doesn't make you "different" or inferior. Although you may feel these ways now, you will grow to live in an environment surrounded by people and things that are comfortable for you.
3) Be outgoing. Speak to everyone, always smile. Become interested in what others have to say; they'll become interested in you in return.
4) Stop giving a shit. It doesn't matter what other people think. It doesn't matter what you're wearing or what you're listening to or watching. Just do whatever makes you happiest. Once they've matured, those surrounding you will begin to appreciate your individually.
5) Nothing will change if you don't. Problems don't just resolve themselves. Work on fixing yourself to be whoever you want to be and the rest will follow.
mat21 |
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