The LIKEME® Organization

Added May 12, 2011

I grew up in a church going Baptist family and was taught that gay people go to hell. I remember my Mom telling my Uncle that he was headed in the wrong direction if he didn't "change his ways". Even at a young age I knew he couldn't "change his ways" because he didn't choose the way he was and I couldn't understand why my Mom didn't understand that about her own brother. I knew she loved him but it was like she tolerated his "lifestyle" because she loved him. Even though it was never said out loud I always knew what his relationship was with his "friend". I am happy to say that my uncle and his partner have been together for 37 years and are legally married in the state of California for 3 years now.

I didn't even think about my own sexuality until I was an adult. I always knew I was different but I thought it was because I was adopted. I came out to friends when I was 30ish and to my family when I was 33. I have been blessed. My family and friends have accepted me for who I am and don't try to change me. I have only had a few minor incidents with strangers and people at work but nothing to be concerned about. My partner and I just do what we would naturally do at home, we hold hands, we hug, and we show each other affection. I WILL NOT disrespect my partner, the woman I love, by denying her or our relationship to please or appease other people. I am OUT AND PROUD!!!

Added May 12, 2011

Added May 12, 2011

Added March 26, 2011

Like so many older women I grew up when being gay was unheard of and no one even spoke the "L" word. I always felt different and by the time I was about 10 I knew I was different but didn't dare to even think that it was because I was a lesbian. I always said I was just shy and that's why I didn't date a lot. But I grew up with all of me stuffed inside and did the expected thing. I got married. He was killed in Vietnam. So I got married again and this time it lasted just about 1 year. I tried marriage and made it for almost 11 years and 2 children before the divorce. But being stupid I once again got married and this time made 5 years. At that point I decided no more and was quite content being alone. But I still wasn't happy.

Following her divorce my best friend moved into my townhouse to share expense. We lived together for several years and it was good to have the company. We were both adamant that we weren't gay until the day several years later when we realized - oh yea, we are definitely gay and very much in love with one another. It was pretty scary for a while but after 10 years and a move to North Carolina we can say we are now who God made us to be and have never been happier. Even though we do not live in a state that allows us to marry we belong to the Lutheran Church and are going to be married in the church this year. How different our lives could have been had we only accepted who we are long ago. But then we stop and we wouldn't have one another. I cannot begin to explain how freeing it has been to live my life just the way God made me! God bless you each and every one with his grace and the knowledge that he love you just as you are and being gay will not send you to hell. Those people don't know what they are talking about. So please if you are still in the closet - come on out! Life is wonderful on the outside!!

Added March 26, 2011

I can remember always know that I was different from everyone else. I was attracted to girls that I was around. I always would dream that I was a boy so that it was alright that I was attracted to them. I grew up in a very small town for a huge part of my life and saw no one around me that was "Like Me" at all. Then at 12 years old I knew that I was a lesbian, but couldn't tell anyone. I was already made fun of all the time as I was a very big tomboy. Then I went into the foster care system full time as the state of Minnesota took full custody of me. I learned at a very young age in the system that it was not safe at all to come out. Then I went very far into the closet.

That was so hard especially since I was such a tomboy. Then I remember when I was 16 years old in a group home and a staff member took me away from the entire group of kids to an office in the basement and tried to force me to out myself as a lesbian. The whole time the staff member just kept telling me that it was ok and that nothing was going to change. I knew that was a complete lie. If I can come out right then and there I would have to fear even more for my safety. So then they told me that if I wasn't gay that I would have to grow my hair out, buy girly clothes and wear make-up.

That was the time in my life that I really became even more depressed and began cutting myself even more to deal with everything. I became a ward state because of abuse and neglect. So they were like my 'parents". So I then went along with their requests as I knew I couldn't come out. That was the point in my life that I really felt like I was a total lie and fake. I felt like I had to get up every day and wear a mask of clothes n hair n make up.

I didn't come out officially until after I was out of the foster care system. That whole story of the system is a long one. I started to slowly start coming out my freshman year of college. It is not so acceptable to be gay at all. There was a girl on my dorm floor that didn't accept it and OUTED me to the entire dorm down in the lobby. After that every time I would go into the bathroom or to shower everyone except for my true friends would all leave like I was going to look at them or something. That was very so hard. I then began to drink a lot...like 7 days a week. Then all of a sudden I found myself my own "family". That is when I did what I always wanted to do in life...."I began my true self" I cut off almost all of my hair, bought men's clothes...polo’s and jean/shorts mostly. That was the day that I felt relief in life.

I still today deal with bullying from people, but I have learned that I have to live my life as who I truly am! I am a proud butch lesbian! I live proudly with my partner with whom I am engaged to.

To everyone out there "It Does Get Better"....not always easy but living as who you are the best thing you can do for yourself!

I've known that I was different since I was a child. I thought I was the only person like me until I was in high school and I met my first partner. We were together for 11 years until his suicide on May 28, 1990. I was devastated but somehow I pulled myself together and worked to move on. I met my current souse in 1993 and we've been together since. There can always be a brighter tomorrow!

I was very fortunate to grow up in an area where I didn't have a lot of problems. I was stronger than most emotionally so when there was ridicule I more felt sorry for that person. I always felt if they didn't know me they couldn't know what they were talking about. How could someone who didn't know me hurt me with words? I decided as a young adult to pass along this message to young gay kids. I now have 6 who know me as their "gay mom" and a wonderful group of gay and straight friends who affectionately call me Momma. At karaoke my theme song is "When you're good to momma, momma's good to you" and I mean it.

I'm 19 years old. I'm gay. In junior high, I barely knew who I was, but people who had even less of an idea of who I was than I did thought it was okay to judge and harass me. It got better. It got better because my friends were there for me. It gets better if we're there for each other in the moment and we realize that someone who seems so different on the outside is, on the inside, just like us. Today I am more confident in my dreams to be a country music singer-songwriter. Chely Wright is an inspiration.

Although a bit more progressive by comparison with other small towns in my state -- due in great part to the university community – it was a tough place for a young lesbian nonetheless. I was from a well-respected family, was popular in high school with plenty of friends and boyfriends, but I tried to end my life on two separate occasions. At the time, I didn't even know what was wrong with me. I just felt like there was something about who I was on the most basic level that was evil, repulsive – or, even worse for my family, socially embarrassing. I knew I wasn’t who I pretended to be, and I knew I wouldn’t become who my parents wanted me to be. I saw no other way out.

The first attempt was half-hearted. I took a handful of sleeping pills. After 10 minutes or so, I walked with numbed footsteps to my parents’ bedroom and told them what I’d done. They made me drink Grey Poupon and water so I would vomit, then they called the doctor. I saw a psychologist for the next several months, but I didn’t really know what to talk about because I didn’t understand what was wrong with me. Seemingly, I had it all. My parents watched my every move for months on end.

After a few months of letting it go, the feelings of worthlessness -- of what an embarrassment I would be to my family -- returned. I knew for several weeks how I planned for the story to end. I would wait until the night before we were all to return from Spring Break in my 11th-grade year, and I would attach the vacuum cleaner hose to my car, crawl in the back with the motor running and go to sleep. Hopefully, a teacher or coach at my high school would find me early the next morning in the parking lot behind the school. My parents would never have to know the truth of the ugly person I truly was.>br />
About 20 minutes into the scenario above, I heard another car drive up and a door close. I thought of the humiliation of being found in the midst of this scene. I thought of how my parents would again say they didn’t know what to do with me and how they’d over exact every minute of my days. I didn’t know what to do. I had no Plan B. If I’d had access to a gun, I wouldn’t be here now, but I didn’t know where to get one

I hadn’t planned to live one day past that one in March 1982. I certainly never planned to go back to school the next day, and I was way behind on projects I’d had no intention of finishing. I drove past the school and all the way to my house on the lake, where I spent the day trying to figure out another method. Unable to identify a sure-fire method, I resolved to just go back to the psychologist, tell her what I’d done and see if she could show me a way to walk into the future.

It would be nearly two years before I recognized my attraction to another woman was undeniably sexual. For GRITS (girls raised in the South), discovering you’re a lesbian at 20 is a lot like discovering that you’re Black at 20, after enjoying the privileges of the White majority all of your life. Except Black people don’t embarrass their families by being Black. And Black families don’t expect their children to hide the fact that they are Black to avoid social embarrassment or upsetting Grandma. And Black churches don’t demonize their Black members.

Fortunately for me, by the time I discovered my sexuality, I had developed a stronger sense of myself and was only briefly despondent. I was afraid for a minute that this would mean I couldn’t be a mother, which I had longed to be as far back as I can remember. The strength was fostered in large measure by an amazing teacher I’d had in high school, who made me feel that I was not only worthy but exceptional. In fact, this teacher was the first person I told about my newly discovered sexuality, and she’s remained a mentor and dear friend for nearly 30 years now.

Sadly, not every questioning, terrified teenager has a mentor like mine, nor do they know where to find one. That’s why groups such as the LIKE ME® Organization are so critical to helping these young men and women see their worth and, most importantly, that they are not alone. There are many, many others like them, like ME.

If I could sit down with every young person who ever thought of ending his or her life, I would tell them that it gets so much better. And every day brings unexpected surprises. For me, 13 years TO THE DATE after that miserable March evening in high school, I gave birth to my first child, which was without a doubt the happiest day of my life. And when I chose to have her, I knew that I was not only worthy of having a child, but that I would be an amazing mother to her and any other children I had. And I am. What a surprise it was for me to realize that I’m an amazing daughter, too. My parents love who I am and the life that I’ve made for myself and my children. They’re proud of me.

I grew up as an Air Force brat from divorced parents and knew by the age of 5 that I was different. I was your typical tomboy always playing outside and hanging out with the boys. Life was great until I started having hard crushes on both my babysitter and on my friend's big sister who was eleven. I was living in the South and just knew there was something "wrong" with me. As I grew up I became a promiscuous "straight" girl to hide that side of me deep down and I had power and independence to do what I wanted. I played the games so no one else would know, except for a couple of girl friends along the way who liked to experiment too. During those times I was happy and playful and felt at home. During elementary school I had two sides to me, the good girl that tried to please everyone and the bad girl that got caught smoking, stealing and acting out. Living on Air Force Bases was a form of torture to me because I loved to watch all those Women in Uniform, and I had the freedom to go all over the Base on my bicycle. Now I really started having those funny feelings and the "warm fuzzies" inside. This was like a bomb going off and I knew I had to shut it down fast. I locked it away and became a model student for my escape.

By the time I reached junior high I was a total academic and a chameleon, depending on which group I hung with at the time. Since I moved so much it was easy to maintain and my new motto had become "adapt and overcome" just like the Marines. I joined band and then my world changed as I fell in hard core love/lust with my band teacher. For a year and a half, I had very vivid sexual dreams, I would get flushed being near her and used any excuse to hang out in the band room. Sometimes my friends and I would joke about being gay or else help to taunt others, as I protected MY secret. I was also from a Protestant background and use to church hop with my friends to explore different faiths, searching for answers. The war inside my head and body and soul had begun and I spiralled deeper into an abyss. I became apathetic about living and began taking risks. I even played Russian Roulette several times, sometimes loading two shells across from each other. Obviously, I was meant to live and then moved back to my Mom's for high school.

This was both a blessing and a curse because my step-dad began to question me almost daily about if I was gay. I lied so much that it became my new truth. Again I shut that part of me down and played the high school dating game. In South Florida, I had begun to become suicidal again during my sophomore year and was researching a GLBT youth support group and trying to get up the guts to go. I also was blessed with meeting an older lesbian couple who gave me guidance as I tried to figure out who I really was inside. During this time, we got orders to Idaho, and hate crimes were still the norm there, as "Queers were being taken, beaten and burned up in their cars" and this was 1986. Needless to say, I was "scared" back into that deep closet and only my Mom and Lesbian friends knew of my confusion as I went back to playing the game. I was crushed and couldn't handle being different. I wanted the straight marriage, career, house, white picket fence and 2.3 children. I wanted that safety net and being "normal" and accepted, by my family, friends and society. I became a binge alcoholic for my escape, always stayed in control at parties, and became terrified of any female contact that might betray my real self. I also turned away from my faith because I was a sinner now in so many ways. In my high school, we had a suicide epidemic and I knew for a fact that one was gay. I was lost and felt alone because I had shut my emotions down and pulled away from everyone. My first semester of college I lived in the girl’s dorm and that was pure torture as I was thrust into a lustful frenzy as half clothed, or less, women ran around our floor partying and such. I was on the verge of a nervous breakdown and transferred out.

Finally, by 1989 we moved back South and it was in Alabama that I finally came home. I found a gay bookstore and a community of people "Like Me." My coming out process began and I flew out of that closet. I had my first Lesbian sexual experience and I was so nervous, I was stiff as a board, but that didn't last long at all. I became a strong advocate for visibility, my Mom became a PFLAG chapter chair in support of us all and at my University I was a charter member to start a GSA group. My Mom and I were making history and yes, she was still married to my hateful step-dad. We were even featured in a story on the front page of the Birmingham News. The bottom line is that I had become free to be Me for the first time in my life and I'd also found my way back to my Faith by going to the MCC church. I was really beginning to be okay and feel accepted. Over twenty years have come and gone and I am still as out as ever. Only twice did I hide in the professional world and I did reach a point of just being proud and not shoving it down people's throats. I have found more love and acceptance from friends and "family" by just being myself and being honest about my being a Lesbian. God had plans for me after all. ;)

I have recently come out as being a gay man. I was married and now all that has ended. It feels so good to be out and proud now. I have always liked men and enjoyed being with a man. Society dictated that marriage to a female was the way but now I am not dictated to that belief now and it feels so good to be myself and gay. I wish that society would accept us for what we are. I believe in due time this will come to pass. Love and hugs to all.

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.

Ever since I was 6 years old I knew I had feelings that were considered "different" than the norm. I used to think I would grow up and get married to a pretty woman just like my dad did. But then you realize that society frowns upon a woman wanting to marry another woman, so I kept that information under my hat so to speak and never let anyone know about my feelings until high school, when I met a girl and all those feelings came on so strong I could not ignore it. I didn't come out to my family until college but, surprise, they already knew since I never dated boys ever and never had a "boy" friend. Now all my family wants is for me to be happy but it seems that many women will experiment and then go back to dating men because it's easier.

I seem to have been an "experiment" for some women I have dated so currently I am still single and just enjoying my life. I currently manage an animal sanctuary with tigers, lions and bears and love my job. I am also a photographer which is my favourite thing.

So I am 23 years old and my first girlfriend and I have been together for a year now. Life has been amazing with her yet amazingly hard at the same time. My mother is a diehard Christian and believes that my relationship with my girlfriend is a sin. She refuses to allow her at her house and that has put a strain on my once perfect relationship with my mother. My mom never knew I was gay; I didn't even acknowledge I was gay until after I divorced my ex-husband. Now I have made it my mission to stand up for what I believe in. She and I are a family; both of us work in law enforcement and have a great family of friends there. A union who represents law enforcement has decided that they will recognize domestic partners for insurance purposes but the city in which we live does not agree with it therefore they will not pay for their portion of our benefits for me adding her. The union that represents us is now going to pursue the city legally on our behalf to force the city to accept us for insurance purposes....this is a stride in the right direction!!! There isn’t much more to say except that I love her and wish for her to marry me.

I grew up in a small town in the Midwest, with a family that is loving, but to be truthful, small minded and lives with people exactly like themselves. From a young age I knew I was different than others, I did not have the feelings other girls had towards boys but did not think much about it, I just figured that the boys I was around were just immature and that would change when I left for college. I had "boyfriends", whatever that constitutes in high school, but never anything serious. However, when I was nearing the end of high school I met a girl who was a lesbian and was drawn towards her; even then I did not know I was attracted to her but rather just thought I wanted to get to know her. After spending time together she told me that she wanted to kiss me and I waited a minute then said ok, as soon as our lips touched I knew I was a lesbian, I had never felt such passion in a kiss and from that day I never turned back. I came out to my family soon after and in doing so I noticed myself changing into the true me. To be truthful, being honest with myself and others about my sexuality has been the best thing for me as a person to grow. I am confident with who I am as a person and am in love with a beautiful, strong, educated woman. I am looking forward to each day together, the future we are building, and the family we are making.

I am a 49 year old single woman. I live in Dallas, TX - Originally from Oklahoma. I have been out for a long time. I knew I was gay when I was really young. Probably something like 6 - 9 or 10 years old. It was strange in small town Oklahoma though and living in a very conservative family. Once I left home for college I met more friends and discovered gay clubs back in 1979 into the early 1980's. I was fully immersed I suppose you could say.

Flash forward to current time - I am really out of touch with gay friends. Many have moved away and I went through a bad accident last year, bad deal all around. Multiple trauma, ICU, many months in the hospital, many more in a wheelchair and after I worked and worked I became strong enough to work again. I have now transitioned to working from my home office (it's great - so much easier on me physically). The thing that has been different is at my company - a very large gay friendly corporation - I've never come out. The time never seemed right or necessary. Since working at home has certainly caused my social connections to shrink, I know it is time to get out and build new relationships. I have some catching up to do it seems - all the recovering and now ready to rebuild a social network.

I grew up listening to country music in small town, Texas. When I was a senior in high school, I came out as a lesbian, was dating my first girlfriend, and unfortunately lost my best friend. What a crazy world it has been since I was in high school. Although I did lose some of my friends, I also gained new friends because of who I am. However, even in Texas, I was never bullied or made fun of... at least not to my face. We need to take a stand, and show our youth they can overcome the bullying and they do have someone to go to! It seems that school has gotten worse for LGBT students and not better. I am still an out and proud lesbian who is soon to be a nurse, living in the bible belt of Tennessee, and successful as I can ever be!

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!!

I am a homosexual male. I knew I was ever since Elementary school. Unlike so many others, I did not go through the motions of getting married, having kids,; then coming out landing with a divorce or additional damage. I came out to my family in 1994 when I graduated; knew what to expect so my things were already packed. After all these years of my family's issues with my sexuality, I have FINALLY come to a point where I can LET GO; I DO realize I have EVERY RIGHT to be HAPPY; WILL BE! I have many close friends that are my family. I have had failed relationships where I was drugged, beaten, cheated on, lied to, etc. FINALLY found MY HOME! We have known about each other for 2 yrs; we, honestly, are not each other's types. At first, I thought he didn't LIKE ME. He kept up with me through mutual friends; even tried looking out for me from a distance. He just ended an 11month relationship; I had already moved past my 3yr-3rd try relationship. Neither of us were LOOKING or WANTING another relationship. But just like Granny always said: It'll hit you when you aren't looking; least expecting it. We buried Granny earlier this year. Her; Grandpa, when he was alive, were the ONLY family that accepted me for who I am. I knew after we lost Grandpa ; when Granny passed, it was going to be different. I did not know or realize how much til now. But I have a family; more friends with this wonderful man in my life now. He has had his road of 11ms of dialysis, heart surgery, kidney; pancreas transplant, etc.; yet, is still here. Its so EASY; SIMPLE. Its like NOT EVEN TRYING this go round. I have learned that I have an outlet through WRITING. I write poems. It has been asked of me why I didn't write songs... b/c I can't write sheet music!? lol. After an abusive childhood growing up, prior to my rough relationships; attempted suicide, I had to reach a point where RIGHT IS RIGHT; WRONG IS WRONG. I AM WHO the Lord made me. At any rate, I am an Asst Mgr in retail; attending school for my Bachelor's in Criminal Justice. We all have trials; everything happens FOR A REASON. When I am asked: Where have you been all my life? I reply: With all the wrong ones evidentally, but they helped me to reach you now; appreciate this more!

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 am extremely fortunate, I have had a partner for over 24 years, she is the love of my life. I am not going to say it has been easy, but today both our families are very supportive. We own our home and live a very happy life. I think more people are being accepting of our lifestyle, especially the younger generation, which is great. If you are a teenager and don’t know where to turn , just reach out to someone you trust, you will be surprised how understanding they will be. GOOD LUCK.

Lesbian and Proud...I am in a wonderful committed monogamous relationship with fantastic straight woman. Life is wonderful and always a surprise.

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!

I'll keep my story short and sweet. Through the lyrics, "heavenly days, so what do we do, dare to be different, dare to be true, bury the treasure, like we've always done, or crawl from the wreckage, and walk in the sun,". I have gathered so much strength. I had heard that song countless times since I purchased Chely Wright's latest album, but for some reason those lyrics truly HIT me when I needed those words most. At that moment I made the decision to live my life by those words and embrace myself for who God made me. Thank you, Chely Wright. You have absolutely changed my life.

I am a lesbian who was lucky enough to have a family that loves me. I have not lost anyone due to the fact that I am gay but I know that there are people who don't even know me, hate me just because I am gay. I did not come out until 3 years ago, when I was 30. I could not imagine coming out as a teenager, in fact, I didn't for the fear of it.

I don't really have a story because i didn't hide it from anyone. Ii am pretty open about it. There is nothing much to tell because i have only been a lesbian since may 2010. I am in the process of looking for that one girl. No luck yet, but i am not giving up. My parents and family know about my sexuality and they are accepting of it.

I spent most of my 56 years on this earth thinking I was your typical straight white female. Married twice, had a child. Then found myself thinking since two marriages failed I must be doing something wrong. I was, but not in the way I thought. Then I met a wonderful lady, much of our lives including childhood had many similarities. One day a friend said "There is something different about you" and after a short pause she said "OMG, you look happy". I have now been with my partner for 9 years and life couldn't be better.

I'm 22years old and just came out in June 2010 as I felt it was the right time for me! I lived in what I feel to be a safe place now and had a great support system of friends. The reason it took me so long to come out was that I lived in a very small country town in Northern CA!

In high school I knew of the gay people but there was no way I would tell people I was gay as I saw what they where going through. People can be so mean and hurtful that I just could not do it. I felt so alone as I didn't feel safe even with in my own family as they would make mean joke's about gay people, I even had a brother go to jail for being apart of a gay bashing. So there was just no way no how i was going to let those would come out of my mouth ( that I'm a lesbian) I would always dream about the day I would come out and be proud. I would say I'm going to do it this day no matter what but never would. I started to feel so alone in my own little world that I started to cut myself to deal with the pain I was in. Then I told my best friend he also was gay and both of us didn't know that about one another so we came up with this great plan, we so called started to date so people would think we where straight and not have any one ask us questions.. We so called dated for a year then I just could not take the hiding and not being true to myself any more So I ran from the problem. I saved all my money and moved cross country by myself so I could start my life over and live my life the way I wanted to.

I came out to my family, maybe not in the best of ways but it felt right to me. I wrote letters to everyone, told them who I really was and always have been I said they can now chose to be in my life or not! Most of them are still in my life and love me for who I always have been but the one person I wish would be in my life is not and that is my mother she didn't talk to me for three months after getting her letter and then she called me out of the blue one day and said I should get a new job (I'm a nanny) as I'm now a pervert and will do something to the kids. I'm like "really me, I love kids" and always have! I told her I hope she has a nice life and that one day I hope she opens her heart as I'm still the same person she has always known but until then I can't talk to you but just know I will always love you!

My story is like so many others. We have some amazing people in our lives who love us for who we are and always have been but then we have the one's who shock us with the hurtful things they say but no matter what don't ever let that stop you from being you the REAL YOU!! Find people who will always love you for who you are no matter what! Find a support system of some kind. I know if I didn't have mine I don't think I would of came out yet, I would still be hiding and worried someone might find out. So search high and low for that support system you would be amazed by some people! Just know things will always get better just keep the faith and be true to yourself!