Bryan 🏳️🌈 Calckey on Nostr: Several months ago, a number of the LGBTQIA+ community here in the Fediverse, shared ...
Several months ago, a number of the LGBTQIA+ community here in the Fediverse, shared coming out stories.
I've always felt sharing our story is important. We feel less alone when we learn others had a similar experience.
Recently I went looking for that thread, and sadly it is gone, victim to a number of instance migrations.
I am going to share mine again, using the hashtag #ComingOutStories. If you are able, consider sharing whatever parts of your experience you can. I find it very therapeutic to put it all in words.
My Coming Out Story
Up until a few months ago, I had only told a few people my coming out story. I now understand how important it is to share our experiences. Anyone reading these will realize they aren’t alone.
I’ve always been smaller than others my age. Add red hair, freckles and glasses, I was a bully’s favorite target.
My bullying was extreme, often physical and much more than unkind teasing or simply being stuffed in a locker.
My home life was equally troubled. My father was abusive to my mother and us kids. There was no support system for me at such a young age. Seeking help from adults always made retaliation even worse.
Early on, I sensed I was different. Clearly my classmates did as well. And so it continued.
My freshman year of high school, some football players grabbed me, took me into a bathroom and beat me to the point an ambulance was needed.
Their excuse was “he’s a faggot.”
My family home was on a hill, in front of our High School. (See attached photographs). The weekend after I was hospitalized, someone burned the word “FAG” into the grass on the back of the hill behind our house - facing directly into the front of the high school.
The humiliation I endured from the entire community, seeing that word burnt onto our property every day, was worse than the broken bones, stitches and bruises.
And so I was outed.
My father never spoke to me again, which wasn’t a big deal, given how physically abusive he was.
Sadly my mother is one of the worst bigots I know. MAGA-style bigotry. To this day, she does not understand why it is racist to have a "plantation" motif in her kitchen, complete with "lawn jockey" and Aunt Jemima style figurines everywhere.
She thinks "religion can fix the sin of homosexuality."
I frequently considered running away over the years. But I had three younger siblings who relied on me, especially when our father went into a rage.
I left that town after graduation, joined the Navy and rarely go back.
My support and love now come from friends and found family met along the way in the years since. And my life is all the better for it.
https://blahaj.zone/files/27096c1c-10ec-4691-a9b4-34ea332ac8b3
https://blahaj.zone/files/9553779e-c4cd-48eb-86d4-0ecad40b4997
I've always felt sharing our story is important. We feel less alone when we learn others had a similar experience.
Recently I went looking for that thread, and sadly it is gone, victim to a number of instance migrations.
I am going to share mine again, using the hashtag #ComingOutStories. If you are able, consider sharing whatever parts of your experience you can. I find it very therapeutic to put it all in words.
My Coming Out Story
Up until a few months ago, I had only told a few people my coming out story. I now understand how important it is to share our experiences. Anyone reading these will realize they aren’t alone.
I’ve always been smaller than others my age. Add red hair, freckles and glasses, I was a bully’s favorite target.
My bullying was extreme, often physical and much more than unkind teasing or simply being stuffed in a locker.
My home life was equally troubled. My father was abusive to my mother and us kids. There was no support system for me at such a young age. Seeking help from adults always made retaliation even worse.
Early on, I sensed I was different. Clearly my classmates did as well. And so it continued.
My freshman year of high school, some football players grabbed me, took me into a bathroom and beat me to the point an ambulance was needed.
Their excuse was “he’s a faggot.”
My family home was on a hill, in front of our High School. (See attached photographs). The weekend after I was hospitalized, someone burned the word “FAG” into the grass on the back of the hill behind our house - facing directly into the front of the high school.
The humiliation I endured from the entire community, seeing that word burnt onto our property every day, was worse than the broken bones, stitches and bruises.
And so I was outed.
My father never spoke to me again, which wasn’t a big deal, given how physically abusive he was.
Sadly my mother is one of the worst bigots I know. MAGA-style bigotry. To this day, she does not understand why it is racist to have a "plantation" motif in her kitchen, complete with "lawn jockey" and Aunt Jemima style figurines everywhere.
She thinks "religion can fix the sin of homosexuality."
I frequently considered running away over the years. But I had three younger siblings who relied on me, especially when our father went into a rage.
I left that town after graduation, joined the Navy and rarely go back.
My support and love now come from friends and found family met along the way in the years since. And my life is all the better for it.
https://blahaj.zone/files/27096c1c-10ec-4691-a9b4-34ea332ac8b3
https://blahaj.zone/files/9553779e-c4cd-48eb-86d4-0ecad40b4997