The LIKEME® Organization

Added May 12, 2011

I am a 43 year old lesbian from Canada. I am single, still ...lol....which at times is ok, but sometimes it's lonely. Gosh, this is a little hard for me, not sure where to start. (I hope I don't make mistakes in my English writing, for I am bilingual, French and English, but French being my ''mother tongue.'')

I am currently on sick leave from work because of an accident that I had 3 years ago (I fell at a chip stand, and dislocated and fractured my left shoulder). My condition became worse, where my arm/shoulder was considered ''frozen''. I have had 2 surgeries and still remain, today, with a disability and the worse, is ongoing chronic pain. Needless to say, it has been a very big adjustment for me because I once was very active, working full-time, studying part-time and going to the gym on a regular basis. Today, I feel a little lost, I am unsure of where my life will go.

As far, as my being a lesbian, well, let me tell you, it is not easy, especially, where I live, it is not always easy to be open. Although we do have a gay club, I am no longer interested so much in the clubs at my age. I guess one could say, ''Been there, done that.'' If I'm single today, it is probably of my own doing, for I kind of retreated to myself after the accident. I guess with all the uncertainty of where my life is going, at the present moment, I guess I feel I may not have much to offer. I do realize also, that that could possibly be only in my head..lol. Also, when you are a feminine looking lesbian, well...I don't get noticed by women too much, at least not here. Men look at me more than women which is often frustrating.

My interest to this site is that I truly believe in helping the youth of today to be open with themselves and others and to help make it easier for them. Growing up, for me, when I came out as a lesbian, was very hard. Mom and Dad wanted their daughter to be married to a man and have kids. My father passed away in 2005, and my mother still lives today and I am lucky to say that she accepts me now, as far as my choices in a life mate, and I consider her to be my best friend and my only support through my hard time, at the moment.

You know, often I was told that life changes at 40, but I never dreamed that my changes would involve an accident, leading me to be on LTD. My hope now would be to someday soon, return to my studies, and maybe get more involved in working for and helping LGTB youth of today.

Anyways, I hope my short life story, happening now, as one would say, is not too boring. Maybe, I'll get a chance to update at some later point.

Added May 12, 2011

Added May 12, 2011

I came out later in life yet have known I was gay my whole life. I just tried to fit into the world's view of the way people should be it made me pretty miserable and not happy at all. I have had a few relationships but have not found the one for me yet. I am a teacher and find it really hard to be myself at work. I live in the Midwest and it is not always accepted. It really makes life hard at times. My friends and family are very supportive which helps. I love my job and my support system yet I am missing that personal side. The partner in my life, the one to share life and love with. So, I continue to look and hope.

Added March 26, 2011

I grew up in a small community in the North End of Boston. I come from a Catholic Italian family. I had always known I had been a lesbian and finally decided as a senior in HS that I would come out to my parents. They asked me to move out. I lived with my grandmother, who openly accepted that I was gay, and my parents refused to speak with me. I went off to college and began to get involved with organizations to make campuses safe for the LGBT community. I then took it a step further and worked with some YMCA organizations around Boston to help make young kids/teenagers feel safe in their neighborhood.

I lost a best friend to cancer and my grandfather in the same month. I needed the support of my family so I told them I went through a phase even though I knew in my soul I belonged with a woman. I married and had a son. My son is the light that shines brightly in my life but shortly after he was born I knew I didn’t want to raise him to ever have to face what I had to face. I once again told my family that I could no longer live a lie. To this day they barely speak with me.

I met my beautiful partner, of 9 years, working at a summer camp for children with cancer. She passed away 2 years ago. I currently continue my work with cancer patients with a focus on the LGBT community and partake in many fundraising events. My son is now 19 and thriving at college.

Added March 26, 2011

My journey began as a young girl growing up on the farm. I am the youngest of three children. Always knew that I was a lesbian but until recently have not started to come out of the closet so to speak. After reading Chely's book it has helped tremendously, giving strength, knowing that there is support out there. Growing up in a Christian home has had its hard times but everyone is being supportive which surprises me in a way. I am proud of who I am and who I have become as a woman! Life is for Living! And for Loving!

I'm a 57 year old lesbian living in cowboy country in Alberta, Canada. When I was a teenager, I didn't even know lesbians existed. After an unhappy 5 year marriage, I left and shortly after that came out. I've lived with my partner for 30 years now and we're welcomed in this rural community by some and tolerated at least by most. Clearly though it is still an issue for us and more dangerous yet for gay men. Most LGBT people move to the city. Gay male ranchers marry women and have children if they want to be allowed to stay on the ranch and inherit. To all the young people out there - it definitely DOES get better. If you're unhappy, there are lots of supportive adults. Talk with someone.

I've always known that I was different, from about the age of five I knew that I wasn’t like other girls. I was shocked to find out that other girls didn’t like the same things I did. I was called a tomboy, it was just who I was. I climbed trees, hated dresses and my best friend was a boy. I didn’t have my first crush on a girl until I was in the 4th grade. My sister’s 2nd grade teacher was the sweetest person I had ever met...she was like a grown up but somehow not.

Here is my truth...the first woman I remember falling in love with was Miss Kramer, my second grade teacher. It was 1978 and she drove a Pacer. How I wanted to ride around our tiny little town in that car (which looked like a Milk Dud) with Miss Kramer. I imagined what it would be like to live with her, I wanted her to adopt me away from my family of 8 and shower me with all of her attention. Of course, at the time, I had no idea that my crush on Miss Kramer was because I was gay...that would not come to be for another 20 years.

I was always fascinated by women. I thought my admiration for them was just that, me admiring EVERYTHING about a strong, smart, beautiful woman so that I might someday emulate them. The lines between admiration, adoration and attraction began to cross when I was in my mid-20s. To that point I was quite confused about who I was. I had plenty of male friends but I never, not once, ever had the inclination to "be" with them. If ever they tried to "be" with me I would run, hide, play it off. I could not make sense of what was happening (or NOT happening) in my life. All of my friends had had boyfriends, I had none. I began to think I was asexual. It seriously never entered my mind that I might be gay until I got a job where many employees were gay. It was as if my mothership had landed. I began to understand what "gay" meant (and what it DID NOT mean). Gay meant being who you were meant to be and loving who you were meant to love. It was not sick, perverted, or deviant as I had been lead to believe by my church, my small town, my culture. I tried to fight it at first. I swore to never act on it and when I decided that would be impossible, I decided I would act on it but I just wouldn't tell anyone. I wanted to move a million miles away from home so I could start a new gay life where no one knew me and where no one cared who I was and who I was with. In my frenzy to keep my dirty little secret I started to feel like I was going crazy. I considered taking my life...a permanent solution to a temporary problem. My family had already lost one member (my younger brother) to suicide. I saw how that ripped my family apart and broke our hearts forever; I knew I could not put them through that again. I had often wondered how my brother could have felt so powerless and hopeless that he would commit suicide. I realized that by hiding, I was rendering myself powerless and I certainly felt hopelessly trapped in denial, regret and self-loathing. What a horrible way to live. I decided that I needed to take control of my life.

Being gay does not define who I am, it is just part of who I am. Slowly, but surely, I started coming out to my family. I started with my mom (the softy) and do you know what she said??? She said, "I always knew you were gay, I was just waiting for you to tell me! I just want you to be happy and know that you will love and be loved." And so it went with each member of my family. How I regretted all the time I wasted doubting their love for me. I had felt so tortured, thinking everyone would relish in "Little Miss Perfect's" fall from grace. Always striving to be perfect, be everything to everyone, be successful, be a role model for my younger siblings...the great cover up to counter my horrific gayness...all to find out that they all just love me for me, gay and all. Now that 2 more of my siblings have recently come out (3 of my parents' 6 children are gay), I can honestly say that when it comes to love and acceptance, my family takes the cake. My advice to young people who are worried about coming out is this: Who you are and how you live your life MATTERS and those who truly love you will accept you for exactly that. To thine own self be true...

My story may be a little different than those who post. I am 38 years old and I came out when I was 33. I don’t know if you can really call it coming out, but at 33 I decided to live the life I was supposed to. I was married. Greg and I were together for 7 years prior to getting married. We were married for 3 1/2 years before I moved out, and according to the court, were legally married for 4 ½. I always knew I was different but chose the safe route. I fell in love, the best way I knew how, with an incredible man. I was not completely comfortable with the idea of marriage. Yet when he proposed in San Marco Square in Venice, Italy, I was swept away. I knew something wasn’t right. But I couldn’t deal with it. The hard part was when I knew I had to deal with it. That is when the guilt and the fear consumed me. I knew I wasted 10 years of a great man’s life because of my fear to be who I was. I was scared because I knew of the struggle of acceptance I would face. The guilt consumed me. To the point that I had pills lined up. I did not know how to deal with wasting years of someone else’s life due to my own fears. I struggled. But something inside me knew I had to continue with my life. I went to therapy. I learned and I grew. I found my inner strength. I found my inner confidence. In my process I found the dormant person I was born to be. Yet I still struggled. I moved out, I was going through a divorce. I felt as though I was losing two families. His and mine. His I knew, would never forgive me. I knew my parent would be so very upset but I had faith they would come around because they did love me. So this decision to be who I was , was more of a risk because the loss of two families was so hard for me. But in my heart I knew I had to be me. And yet I knew I was still an outcast in the gay/lesbian community. And sadly I was a little right. I didn’t feel included because I had been married. I felt as though I was wearing a big “D” on my chest. I struggled giving up my security of acceptance and of a dual income, of a big house, of the “American dream”…but I knew that wasn’t my dream. And now I struggled with being an outcast of a group that struggled to be accepted. It was a strange time. But I put myself out there. I grabbed onto the confidence that was building inside and put myself out in a new world. I had fun, I had too much fun. But I found myself. I found my place. I found my peace. After my fair share of dating I met the woman who I am supposed to be with, at a flag football game. I was settled in my life. I knew who I was and was confident in that. She is truly the love of my life. We recently bought a house and are planning a family. My ex-husband and I are still best friends and share custody of our dogs. He, my girlfriend and I go out to dinner frequently. He used to get our opinion on the new women he was dating, but now is dating a great woman who, my girlfriend and I love. And she is accepting of us and our kind of dysfunctional ‘family” unit. I struggled. I was fearful I was scared. But this was my process. Everyone’s process is different. But I wouldn’t give up my struggle because I feel like the person I was meant to be because of it.

I'm a firefighter/paramedic in California who loves people and feels that the only way to change prejudice is though kindness and tolerance of others even though their views might be different than ours. I have been very lucky in my life to live in an area where most people embrace people like me. My parents are very open to me and have been supportive of me being a lesbian. I am very lucky.

Before I came out, I felt very tortured by keeping this very important part of myself hidden from the people around me. I didn't know how they would react if I told them I was gay. So I kept it a secret for a very long time. Unfortunately, by keeping this secret, it put up emotional walls between me and the world outside. I felt very alone. People wanted to get to know me, but I wouldn't let them. I wouldn't let my parents come over to my apartment. I lost a lot of good and potential friends because I was too afraid of how they would react to me if I told them I was a lesbian. Finally, when I just couldn't bear it anymore, I came out. I was amazed how supportive everyone was! Even at work. I find now that if people are against who I am, I treat them with extra kindness, because I feel that these people need to know that gay people are good people. Through kindness and caring of others is how the barriers between all people will fall. Remember, you are blessed to be who you are and it is so important to live your soul's true purpose. It is there you will find true happiness.

I'd known I was a lesbian since I was 11 or 12. I always liked girls better than boys in that intimate respect. I had my first real Lesbian romance when I was a senior in High school 1979. I was in love or so I thought. She had other ideas, after graduation she left, I never saw her again. By my mid-twenties in the early 80's I tried to be with a man for the sake of my parents, I even got engaged. None of it ever worked with me and men. The engagement broke up, I joined the Air Force and started meeting all kinds of women who were gay. Back then DADT didn't exist. A person just couldn't say anything period.

I came home from my first out of state military experience and the first time I had ever been away from home. I finally told my parents that I was a lesbian. The once very close knit family now didn't speak to me for another two years. Fortunately for me I had a lot of great friends who helped me through that tough time. I tried to kill myself twice and never succeeded. Not because I was gay, but because my Mom and Dad couldn't handle it. After two years they decided that they loved me no matter what, but we could never talk about it.

20 plus years later, I've been with my partner for over 20 years, and my parents love her, but we still can't talk about it. I am as out of the closet as I can be, being a professional in the Healthcare industry, I have to be careful still who I tell, sad really when you think about it. I'd love to tell the whole world, but for fear of losing another job because I'm gay I keep my mouth shut. Yes, I've tried to be out of the closet, but when people I've worked with in the past have found out, I've been fired. Oh, they call it something else, but plain and simple, "you're fired because you're a lesbian, we don't want your kind around here" If they'd just be honest about it and call it what it is I might have more respect for them than telling me that after 5 years of employment... "You’re just not working out".......RIGHT!!! I don't know if it ever truly gets any better, or if we just get thick skinned and use to the abuse. When people make nasty comments now, I just smile at their ignorance.

I am an 18 year old California girl. I have been hiding all my life. But it wasn't till this summer (or the summer of 2010) that Chely Wright, without her knowing so, gave me the strength to tell my mom and friends who I truly was. I have been a Chely Fan for as long as I can remember. So it was a MUST to read her book, but her coming out story gave me the feeling that anything can be possible. Then meeting her for the first time was surreal; she most likely doesn't remember me, I still thank her from the bottom of my heart for giving me some happiness and peace. Although I'm not completely free yet, college is looking amazing right now!

I am an out gay women who has been active in my community for over 45 years. I came out when I was 18 years old in my first year in college, when I fell in love with my freshman English professor. When I told members of my family, each one reacted in a different way. My dad was fine with it. He was a liberal and totally understood me. My sister who had always been indifferent and distant remained in that place. Today we are closer but I would not call us friends. My mother was a totally different story. My mother never accepted me, my politics or my partners. Even as a child, I felt isolated from her. I remember when I was in high school when friends thought my parents were cool, I would tell them, “You don’t know my mom!” My mom was always so wrapped up in the business of my older sister, I use to joke with my peers that my sister was an only child. I would become estranged from my mother sometime during the middle of high school. We remained estranged for over 25 years. At best, we were cordial and only spoke at family holidays gatherings where my attendance was obligatory. On occasion, when my mother had been drinking, she would call to berate me for being such a horrible and disappointing daughter. In my mother's later years she became increasingly vicious and mean not only towards me but people who she felt had wronged her. Yes, she felt I had wronged her by "choosing" to be gay. It was after all my way of hurting her. My way of showing her what a failure she had been as a mother. She never tried to understand anything about me. When my mother became physically unable to care for herself. No one in the family, not her other daughter, her sister, her two grandchildren, whom she had spent all of her money on over the years, were willing to take on the responsibility of her care. She was by then so mean spirited few people even wanted to visit, especially if she was intoxicated, which had become an almost daily occurrence. I was called. My partner had recently died, I was alone so the family decided I was the perfect choice to care for my ailing mother. Imagine being asked to live with a person who has rejected and hated you for the past 25 years! Since it has never been in my nature to say no to something wounded and in pain, I would/could not say no to my mother. I spent the next 15 years of my life caring for someone who in truth probably did not like me or anything about me, from my sexual identity to my political views. Over the years I believe my mother came to accept me on some levels. She had to. I was the only one who would put up with her. I rather look on those years as a mellowing journey for my mom. In those years, there were times my mother would become nostalgic and emotional. She would tearfully tell me how much she loved me. She often thanked me for caring for and helping her. I came to believe that was probably all my mother was capable of giving. In the end, she let me know how much she did or did not care about me. When she died, she left every single penny she had and all of her worldly belongings to my sister and her two grand children. Had I not owned the home we lived in by that time, she would have signed it over to one of the grandchildren. In the end, I would have been homeless if she had her way. I was left with only memories of my mother. I don't resent her, I pity her. She failed to know a warm, wonderful sensitive and giving women who over the years was professionally engaged in helping families and children become healthier and happier people. I couldn't make my family functional, but I helped so many others along the way. I am at peace with myself and the memory of my mother. I forgave her years ago. Perhaps that is the reason I am so in tuned to the pain and suffering of others - able to help them navigate to a safe place within themselves. For that, I can thank my mother.

I knew I was gay when I was 5. I didn't know what sex was. I just knew I wanted to be with girls. It wasn’t a choice. As I was a Christian then I went to church and participated in all church activities till I was 30. I never dated till I was 35 because I could not bring myself to date a guy, yet I could not come out because my family is religious. I prayed to god to make me straight every day of my life and contemplated suicide many times, but my guilt stopped me from acting it out. I also prayed that I’d be killed in an accident before I turned 30. Life was so unbearable. None of my prayers were answered, however, and I tried dating a guy. I hated it but luckily it ended quickly. I became a recluse and I spent my weekends on my couch surfing the net for information and coming out stories. I wanted to know if there was someone like me. Gradually I knew there is only one thing for me to do, which is to come out. I was in such a grip of fear that I started counselling to help me through the process. At first I was still adamant that I would not come out, but through the sessions I’d come to realize that I could never have any real relationship with my family and friends if I continued hiding. Every conversation I had was half lies because I needed to cover up my true feelings. I dodged questions like a pro but at the same time I could not enjoy the conversations. During that time I signed up to a dating website for lesbians and I struck up conversations with other women. I even met up with one woman who later arrange drinks at a pub and invited all the women she met on the site. I went and there I met my wonderful partner, and we have been together for 3 years now. My partner had just come out to her family and friends, and she encouraged me to do the same. Finally with lots of counselling and support from the partner I came out to my family and friends. I lost a couple of friends but the rest are happy for me, and some already guessed! My brother stopped talking to me but my folks are finally happy for me to have a partner. I wish I had come out sooner so that I didn't have all though empty years of hiding, and being disconnected from my family. However, one must come out when one’s ready. Everyone’s journey is different and some may not have understanding people around them. With a site like this though, the message of hope will not be lost. To anyone who is struggling with yourself, I just want you to know that though it is difficult but it’s worth coming out. If you feel alone, do read Chely Wright’s book, Like Me, as you will find encouragement and know that you’re not the only one who feels how you feel. I also feel I have been reborn. Life is just so much easier without the shackles of lies.

I am the divorced mother of a little boy with special needs. I am in the process of coming out to my family. I have a relative who is gay, so that makes it easier. However, I have also been a foster parent for 6 years, and in my state, gay couples are not allowed to foster/adopt children, so that complicates the matter. "Equality. Not tolerance." "Dare to be different. Dare to be true." :)

I've been honest with everyone else in my life so there's no point in not saying I'm gay on here. I think I've been asking my dad here and there to test the waters, well what if one of your daughters was gay, without really knowing I was testing the waters if that makes any sense? I should have not been scared to tell my parents and just because their liberal and love me and blah blah blah, it doesn't mean it's gonna be easy. I think I've always known and even more so in college but being shy and having my learning disabilities, and other health issues I didn't want to add something else that I thought might be hard on my parents. Just like I thought my parents didn't care. I'm 32 years old. I could have come out sooner but I think it's all about the right time. I've found an amazing methodist church with LGTB support and will have that on top of my family and friends. Don't feel pushed into coming out, come out when you feel it's right. I'm lucky because my sister and bro-in-law(that's what I call him) basically said so...Even a Mormon friend accepted me because she's known me since Jr High..a long time ago. Everyone that's known me forever has been nothing but supportive. My Dad said to me the other night "I wondered" but he wouldn't tell me why. My story could go on for hours but I want you to know there are people who care about you. Sometimes we have to look a long time, but don't give up. I want to be someone who can help others. I feel guilty for not coming out sooner. I was hospitalized for suicidal thoughts in 2003 and as I look back I'm guess not being open about this was connected. I was born with a hole in my heart and pushed on through it as a baby and have survived many struggles, I know I'll get through this.

I'm 28 years old and grew up in Oregon. I came out when I was 16 years old. I have been lucky to have a great group of friends and a loving supportive family. My story has been good. Reading about other people’s hardships makes me very grateful for my experience. I'm not saying that I have not received prejudice for my sexuality. I have just had an amazing support system. I think that helps. I'm Happy to say that I am a Single Gay Father to a beautiful two year old daughter. My life is good. I had struggles as a teenager but it does get better! I am a Happy, Proud Gay Father!!

Starting High School is hard enough. I always knew I was different but I didn’t know how exactly. My last year in middle school I started to watch all of my friends develop crushes for boys, i never did. I thought that I had not found the right guy yet. I found out that it wasn't a guy but more like a girl. As a freshman, I met someone who changed my life. I knew then that I was a lesbian. I didn't really understand it. All I knew is that i liked a girl and she liked me back. I thought there was nothing wrong with that. Then my parents found out. When my dad first found out he called me unnatural and said that being a lesbian was not acceptable. My mom then told me that I was closing doors and that the sex was not the same and I would never be happy. I was shocked and felt alone. I knew that God loved me but why would he make me into something my own parents did not accept. Now as a senior in high school, my parents have come to realize that I am a lesbian and they can't change that. I gave my mother "Love, Ellen" By Betty DeGeneres to read to help her realize that I still love her and more than anything I need her to love me too. 4 years later and I know I'm no longer alone but it wasn't always like that.

I think like many people who realize they are gay, they realized it when they were young, I know I did. I now think back and can probably say that my first female crush was on my 3rd grade teacher, Ms. Close. My second female crush was my Home Ec. teacher in High School and my third female crush was my mentor at the agency I did my college internship at, whom became one of my dear friends and one that I still have contact with. I was born in 1971 and grew up in a traditional Hispanic Catholic home, in a small town in the Southwestern part of New Mexico with the town population being about 3,000 people. My first encounter with another female was probably when I was in junior high and the encounter was mostly made of up of just kissing, of course I keep everything to myself with the hopes that the other female wouldn't say anything either, but yet I couldn't wait to get see this female again. I went throughout Junior High, High School and college dating men and I was even in a sexual relationship with two men, one lasting approximately 5 years and the other lasting 7 years. Despite these being long term relationships there was just something missing in the relationship itself and it wasn't complete for me. In 2001, I moved from the small town to the big city and was single. In 2003, I meet the most amazing person, who has now been my partner for the last 7 years. As we spent time together, we found to have a lot in common and I felt the "something missing" in this relationship that I hadn't felt in the relationships I had with men. This was my first "real" relationship with a female. Although, it is common knowledge to my family and some friends that I am in a same sex relationship, I have never really come out and told my family and friends that I am a lesbian. It's like Chely stating in her book, for all intents and purposes, my family and friends know about my partner, so why do I need to confirm something for them that they already know? For the longest time, I would shy away from even acknowledging I had a partner, but eventually I got over it. Although, I don't shout it from the roof tops that I have a partner and am a lesbian, I don't hide it either when I'm straight out asked. I've had my ups and downs in my relationship with my partner, but I have no doubt in my mind that she is the one I plan on spending the rest of my life with.

I grew up in a very accepting and gay-friendly part of New York State. I came to realize my sexuality at a very young age (younger than I could possibly guess). I wasn’t very comfortable with myself until high school, though. I'd chalk up my feelings toward the same sex as wanting to be like that specific person, or admiring them. I always thought that other people felt the same amount of appreciation towards the certain people as I did. I soon came to realize that that wasn't at all the case. I once approached my best friend about a certain teacher we had (freshman year) and I asked her if she thought our teacher was as amazing as I did. She found it odd I felt that way, so I soon found myself hiding my thoughts and opinions of certain people. I didn’t really become comfortable with myself until junior year of high school when my immediate friend group (as a whole) realized that we were all gay! Thinking back on it, it was bizarre! We all came out to each other within the same week. I think about how I was afraid of what their reactions might be and if they'd want to be my friends anymore. Even though it was a positive community, I was still scared. It just goes to show you that no matter where you're from, the initial fear is still there. Now that my high school friends and I are scattered all around the country due to college, we all like to think back about on how things worked out for us and how we were ALL scared of each others reactions. You never know, some of the people you are closest to may be in the same situation as you are. You may not be alone after all!

I always knew I was “different." I just couldn't pinpoint what about me was different from my friends. I didn't enjoy going out drinking, getting boys... I was just always told that it was because I was a good girl who did her homework and took life and school work seriously. When my friends had crushes on male teachers I would have crushes on the female teachers but never thought that it meant I was a lesbian. That term didn't even enter my head. I didn't ask my friends if they thought the female teacher was pretty because I just knew that they didn't even think like that about the females. They were too busy drooling over the males. Why, I never understood. I tried, and I faked but inside I felt nothing.

I was 17 years old when I found the woman for me. She is some years older than me and at first I didn't think anything of our friendship other than exactly that - a friendship. A wonderful, enriching friendship but nonetheless, just a friendship. It wasn't until I was 20 years old that I came to understand these feelings that I had for this woman and it took me a few years to accept these feelings. Knowing and accepting it are two very different things but they are equally important.

It wasn't until a few weeks ago that I came out to my whole family. My parents had known since I was 20 and still wasn't sure about what these feelings I had meant. Till this day my mother will not accept me for me. “I don’t look like a lesbian!” because I have long hair and wear make-up………. “It’s disgusting!” “You are sick!” She sent me to a psychologist to try to fix me and of course that turned out to be the best thing for me because I found someone who did accept me for me. She helped me understand that I was not abnormal.

My mother and I don't speak and I am still waiting for the day she will contact me and tell me she's ready. I hope that day will come. I am now 26 (in a few weeks) and I am very happy with my life. I have the best woman for me, my dad has accepted it and the rest of my family have too although that is still fairly new. Looking back through the years now... wow, everything makes sense. It totally makes sense and I was always a lesbian! Knowing it and accepting it is like such a relief... it's the best feeling ever! Like Chely said, it's like being 2 weeks old.

Coming out has been so enriching in so many ways… not only for myself but I have had a close friend of mine come out a week after I told her. She said she could never have done it if I hadn’t done it. Many of my other friends have either come out or admitted that they are bisexual. All I can say is gays really attract each other whether they know it or not! There are so many people LIKE US out there. Some people just need a little help getting to the point of knowledge and admitting it because it IS damn hard! Therefore, if we can be more open about it I KNOW we can help so many people. That is why organizations like this are wonderful. Not only do WE need it for us, SOCIETY needs it too, to see that there are gazillions of people like us and we have every right to be who we are and do-our-thing just like everybody else!

God has uniquely created each one of us to be who he intended us to be whether we are gay, straight, white, black, crippled, deaf, blind, rich or poor. We are children of God and we all deserve to be treated as one without judgment. I can only hope and pray, as I do every day, that more and more people like you and me will continue to believe in ourselves and trust that at the end of every tunnel there is a beautiful life ahead. I have never felt more alive than I have these past couple of years. I just love that song by Celine Dion, I'm Alive. In fact, that song came on right after I told my Dad back in 2007 that I was a lesbian. He was the only immediate family member left for me to tell and when that song came on I just opened my sunroof looked up to the heavens above and could not be anymore thankful then I was right then and there.....SO HAPPY AND ALIVE! All of a sudden I felt like I was literally floating on the clouds above. For so long I had lived a big part of my life depressed, detached, scared and suicidal. I will never allow myself to ever go back to that cold dark place again.

I am 39 years young and come from an incredible family. I was CLUELESS I was a lesbian until I met my partner at 26; however, I always knew I felt different. I grew up in a very Catholic environment but I do not recall the priest ever discussing homosexuals and since my parents didn't read the bible I really had no idea what a homosexual was. Believe it or not I still felt clueless even when someone started a rumor about me in high school. I guess it wasn't a rumor after all (lol). I just thought I was suppose to fall in love with a man and start having babies at a young age just like my parents did and their parents and so on.

My family was very accepting of the news; although, it took my mama a little while to understand how her only daughter was gay since I dated guys and was so precious (her words). All I could say, "It just makes sense now; I was lost and now found."

I met my partner in the winter of 1997 where we used to work. We had a mutual friend there so we all started hanging out. Since I was still living home with my parents I would often crash in her spare bedroom. Eventually one night, after one of our many nights staying up late chatting in her room, we both fell asleep and during the night she "accidentally" rubbed her hand across my back................ my heart dropped, my hairs stood straight up, I got goose bumps from head to toe and okay, a little (a lot) aroused too!!!!! I knew right then and there I was falling in love with my friend. One afternoon, our mutual friend suggested that we move in together since I was still living home with my parents and she could really use the help with rent. I ended up moving in about a month later. That is the day that would end up being our anniversary date. The same day I moved in we sat up on our balcony drinking a daiquiri and somehow, somewhere, we both succumbed to our feelings.

Through all the criticism, judging and living closeted for so long we have never felt more ALIVE and in LOVE! It hasn’t been easy but I thank God every day for giving me the strength and courage to believe in ME. The bottom-line, NEVER GIVE UP because there is always a brighter tomorrow! When the days seem dark and cold hold your hand over your heart and truly feel it beat for the very first time. That’s God telling you that everything is going to be all right. BE STRONG!

When I was first coming to realize and trying to understand my sexuality, I didn't know who to turn to. I knew that there had to be others out there like me, but it took a long time to be OK with seeking those individuals out. I am in a somewhat unique situation in that I have a twin sister who is also gay. Two years after telling her of my own sexuality, she was able to finally confide in me as well. After a difficult time feeling surrounded, but alone, I had someone by my side who was like me in almost every way. I have since met wonderful people who are unique in their own special ways, but who understand the value of being in the presence of friends and family who accept them and others like them. I am thankful for Chely and her simple, but profound summary of what most of us are looking for - people just like us - people, like me.

From a very young age I was always more of a tomboy than a girly girl and looked more like a little boy, a cute boy though and I was always drawn to my female teachers especially the beautiful ones and always acted out or gave the boys and male teachers an attitude. I always would bring my female teachers a apple or a flower. A total charmer quality that I still have today. I would get in trouble so I could get detention by them.

I was born in Germany and was put in an orphanage from birth till I was adopted by right wing Christians at age 3 or 4 in the United States. Need I say anymore? My family knew I was gay long before I did and I not only endured bullying and meanness from my classmates, especially from the boys, I endured it even more in my home life with mental, emotional, physical and sexual abuse. My first suicide attempt, without even knowing what I was doing, was when I was in the 5th grade. I overdosed on Thorazine that my mother use to force me to take. I guess it was to control me or cure me...who knows. To put a child on this form of medication is a crime. This became a pattern and a vicious cycle in my life. Not only did I have to try and survive in school, I had to survive my home life. It was devastating and awful and it took me a long time to break free from the sickness and dysfunction of my family, the abusing of alcohol, the drug abuse and the acting out.

I took one or two suicide attempts for me to finally find myself. The key was being I was able to survive, to break free. It was a long hard road for me and it took a lot of therapy of finding and having people in my life that genuinely cared and loved me. When you can't trust you own family to love and protect you then you don't trust anyone. I still struggle with that to this day but I turned out to be a good woman and nothing like the monsters I was raised by. I obviously still have to work on myself on a daily basis. Unfortunately when you’re a woman and a butch lesbian then bulling and discrimination is an ongoing battle, even in adulthood, in the workplace, etc. Now that I am an adult I can defend myself, my existence and I believe even though I was brought up and drilled to believe that God hated me, I believe God is the only explanation that I am still here and that I survived!

I believe Stevie Nicks music helped me survive. I am here for anyone that needs me and thank you to Chely for all that she does and all that she is : )

I'm a 27 years old lesbian, and when I read that Chely Wright had made a website for the LGBT community, I just had to join. I read Chely's book ‘Like Me’ for the first time a couple of months ago, and I was just truly touched, and since then I have read it at least five times. I felt as if Chely was telling my own personal story. I was born and raised in the Deep South, and I live a a highly conservative county in east Georgia, and it is not the best place to live if you are a LGBT person. I love my parents, but I was raised by a strict Southern Baptist mother, who is very against homosexuality, but I am lucky, I was also raised by a father who does not feel the same way as my mother does, and he loves me for who I am. Like I said, living down here in the South has not been easy on me. I have had so many struggles throughout my life, countless suicide attempts, and several threats thrown my way, but I've been lucky to have pulled through it all, thanks to the love and support of a few friends. I always tell people that if they are having a hard time with life, or just need to talk, that I am always there for them, because I have been there myself. So if anyone needs to just talk, it is more than ok to talk to me, and again I am so proud of Chely for coming up with website!

In high school a rumor was started about me in my small town school that I was a lesbian. At the time I didn't know anyone who was gay, much less think that I was myself. Never the less, I was called names, threatened, had people attempt to run me and a friend over with a car and every day it was like the parting of the seas when I walked down the hall of the school. High school was horrible but when I graduated I left and started over. I still wasn't sure who I was in college but I went to church and put all of my energy into being a "good person". I never really had a girlfriend or boyfriend before this point and then I met a girl and I had feelings I never had before. I was scared to death because I thought I would go to hell for even thinking about being with a girl, but I gave in. We hid our relationship from everyone which was not an easy task living in a small dorm. After being in a relationship with that girl for a few years I decided to come out to my family. It was one of the scariest things I have ever done. One of my sisters was very accepting but my mother who always has something to say said nothing. And then came the words "it's an abomination". She did not believe it was right but she ended up being kind and accepting to my partner. That was probably eight years ago and even though some people are still not completely accepting of the fact that I'm gay I am out to most people that know me and I have a great life. I have a girlfriend of five years and I am a preschool teacher. So for those of you who have had a hard life as a LGBT person just remember it will get better-especially after high school.

“Freedom’s just another word, with nothin’ left to lose..” I have found myself in a very precarious place in my life. Some of my friends believe that I am having a midlife crisis. I’m not sure they are wrong. I am doubtful about my job, my career. I am doubtful about where I want to live. I am doubtful about me. Recently the first country music star has come out of the closet, one that I really liked and respected before her coming out and have gained even more respect now. Her bravery, her honesty, and the look in her eye that says that she is now free has me thinking…thinking a lot. The thinking is overwhelming; it has taken over my entire day. It’s hard to focus on anything else. The more I think, the more there is to think about. Right now, I have my hand on the closet door knob. If I do turn that knob and come out, I would have to come to grip with a lot of fears. 1. Lose some of my family. Although I may geographically live far away from my family, we are all still very close. We talk on the phone every day, I go home every Christmas, and they come and visit me at least once a year. My brother and his family live only twenty minutes from my mother and yet I am closer to her and almost see her as much as they do. Am I ready to risk losing that? When I was ordained, my uncle and his wife did not attend because they have such conservative beliefs that they don't believe in women being ordained. So....I'm thinking I WILL lose some family. 2. Lose some of my friends. Because I have not lived near home, in the South, for many years, I'm not really close to my childhood friends anymore. Facebook is our relationship now. So, I'm not so worried about them as much as I am worried about losing my immediate friends right now in Montana. Although Montana is pretty removed from the rest of the world, it is still a very conservative place because of that. It's still considered frontier out here, and the people still live it as such. I have some great friends out here, but I fear I will lose many of them. I'm in a city, but even the cities are very small towns when looked at in the big picture. Everybody knows everybody. Which brings me to my third fear. 3. Lose my job. If I didn't lose my actual job, I fear that I would lose my effectiveness. I am a hospital chaplain; I have helped, ministered to, married and buried so many people around here. Their level of trust, vulnerability, and connection would lessen. I can only help those who are willing. If the willingness stops, so does my ministry. Which brings me to a revelation, I will probably have to move and get a new job in a part of this country that is more open and inclusive in their thinking and acceptance. Am I willing to do that, do I want to move, change everything? < p>Coming out is so much more than just telling people something about yourself. I am so good about self disclosure. I ask that of strangers in the hospital every day, asking them to trust me with their hearts, their souls, and their very spirits. I can't ask this of others, without giving them some of myself. But for some reason, this is one element of me that I just can't seem to let go. I will tell everyone everything else, but not this. I watched Chely on Ellen. I’ve watched all of her interviews! She has a way of piercing right through my heart with her honesty, tenderness, and bravery. < p>Chely’s interview sent my memories back to my youth and began my search for someone like me. Because I played basketball and softball for as long as I can remember, there have always been girls on my teams or coaches that were "butch." I think the first person that I recognized as "butch" (I'm sorry for this term, I don't know if there is a better word) was my 8th and 9th grade basketball coach. I realized the look was different but I didn't know why nor did I have the words. High school gave me more. There were a couple of girls on the team and my softball coach seemed a bit different. It was in high school that I had my first relationship. And for some crazy reason, I still couldn't put two and two together and come up with four. But ask anyone, I have never been good at math! Here I was in a homosexual relationship and I was not able to put that identity to anyone else. So, as far as I was concerned, I was the only one. The other strange part was that I was aware that there was "talk" about them, but I never saw myself similar to them. The thing that I realize now is that they were not out publically, or at least I was not aware of it, but then again, is a 15-16 year old suppose to know those things? But that taught me that you don't come out, you keep your private life private. And, I suppose I didn’t need to search for someone because I was not aware of homosexuality or even my homosexuality. Also, a very good friend of mine was a great singer, pianist, actor, and he loved Barbara Streisand. Once again my math skills let me down. He now lives in Chicago, living in a very committed relationship with his partner of about 7-8 years. Who knew? The more I write and the more I read what I write, the more screwed up I feel. How does one not know that they are gay? Sure different (maybe) but gay? Things truly started so innocently, that I didn't question it. Not until my mom found us out. My college softball coach was gay, and I knew it, because there were several girls on my team who were out. They let things slip. I respected this coach. She had a ministry outside of coaching; she was fair, kind, funny, and a great coach. But, she had to live in the closet. She even came close to losing her job because rumors were flying and she taught at a Baptist college. So, once again the lesson was clear. Stay silent. When I look back, I realize that there were plenty of gay people around me, so that wasn't the problem. The problem was that none of them were out, so that was the message I learn. I closeted myself so far inward that I didn't even know to look outward. Chely, I want to thank you for making me think. Thank you for being the catalyst that started my soul searching. This experience, in and of itself, has been freeing. This is the first time I have ever done this with myself, much less, anyone else. Thank you for being like me, I hope one day I can be like you.

I have been a heterosexual all of my life, and have now discovered the real me. Having been married twice before and still not finding satisfaction, I recently realized that it was because I'm a lesbian. I'm now in a wonderful relationship with a woman that feels completely natural with no desire to go back to the life, or lack thereof, that I was living before.

I've just come out to my ex, my mom, my sister and for the most part have been met with complete support. I've not yet told my child but I will in due time.

I know without a shadow of a doubt that this is life I was meant to live and I look forwarding to embracing the community and causes to further the progress of LGBT acceptance.

The most recent part of my story began when I heard of the Reutger's student committing suicide as well as the other most recently publicized deaths of gay kids. I, up until now have taught for about 25 yrs closeted. Last week I made a shortlist of teachers I would come out to because I made a decision to face my fear of being fired and told them all that I'm gay. Ten to be exact. I'm exhausted emotionally, but feel a new since of freedom. My main purpose in coming out at work is that I am positioned to help kids who are struggling with their sexuality. Kids need to know that WE are everywhere and that they are not alone. I want gay kids at my school to know that they have a gay ally in me. Since I don't present as a lesbian people do not think I am gay. Everyone that I came out to over the last two days have been so kind and gracious to me that I wonder what I was so afraid of. Times are changing and will continue to change as long as we do not remain silent. So my next list is coming. I have two names on Phase II of my coming out. There are 73 teachers in my high school so I have a ways to go. Even though the word will spread, I want to take the time to tell every single teacher I work with personally that I am gay. 25 yrs is a very long time to keep silent, hide, and exile yourself from your fellows at work.

Where did my story begin? I knew very early on that I was different and it began when I developed a crush on Sally Field's in the Flying Nun; I was in kindergarten. Next was Olivia Newton- John at age 12 to present. Coming from a very conservative fundamentalist Baptist background started the beginning of my feeling something was wrong with me. And I didn't know of any other girls or boys who were like me. So I began to fear myself and hate me at the same time. It led me down a dark path.

Depression plagued me. Trust eluded me. I had no one. Then I fell in love with my 22 yr old gym teacher, Ms. B. She told me that my feelings were not natural and that she was disappointed in me. So of course at 16 I thought I was a freak who was headed straight for the pits of hell.

I go to college and end up walking on a basketball team full of lesbians, afraid that they thought I was a lesbian. Still thinking I'm a freak and not acting on my sexuality, running straight to a good looking guy that I liked because he was sensitive, I marry him my junior year of college and have two sons by him. By the age of 23 I have acted on my homosexuality and the marriage is over.

I came out to my family. Everyone with exception to my dad was supportive. I was a daddy's girl so imagine the rejection I felt. This estrangement went on for a decade; however, I did not close the door on my dad. I joke now that it took Dick Cheney having a gay daughter for me to get back in his good graces. We have a very loving relationship today and my dad is full of regret for his alienation towards me.

I raised my son's having two significant partners to help me over the years. They went with me to every gay pride in OKC until they left home. I just turned 49 yesterday and am a very young grandma. A lesbian grandma.

So my life has been lived on two very different levels since I was 23.In my private life I have lived openly as a lesbian, but closeted at school. Fear of some institution being able to take away what I love doing simply because I am gay has immobilized me up to now, but I turned a new page when I constructed my shortlist last week and saw it to fruition today.

Something happens when you come out. You find strength in what you perceived to be your ultimate undoing. Now I am so ready to move onto the next phase, which is to get a gay/straight alliance started up at my school. You see, I strategically picked my shortlist. I knew who would be my allies. Just in those ten conversations, I have two teachers who have said they want to be a part of the alliance and will be there with me in any capacity in this journey.

I am so excited and look forward to what comes next. Oh, and who knows, I may get fired. I will not say that again because I like to keep negative thoughts out of my head, but I will face whatever comes with my head held high.