College students express views on sexual preferences
Chantel Martin
Section: News
"Everyone else would put their status as 'straight' or 'seeking men,'" she said. "I would put that I am gay. And since it was a small town, word traveled in about a day."
Anjelica said a reason as to why she kept holding on the idea that she was a bisexual was to please everyone else.
"When I said I was bi, if people did not accept all of me then they could at least accept part of me," she said. "A lot of people, when they say they are bi, are just hanging on to a part of them that is 'normal.'"
Alex's Story
TJC student Alex said he came out when he was 15.
"I knew when I was 13, but I could never tell my mother," he said. "I was raised in a very large, Irish Catholic family."
Looking back, Alex said he knew he was 'different' when he was 4 years old.
"I never liked girls more than just friends," he said. "As a teenager, I was not attracted to hot teenage girls or celebrities. I was always attracted to the heartthrob male."
Alex said that when he did tell his mother, she did not have a confrontation.
"I have a lot of male gay cousins and I'm the youngest," he said. "So my mom knew they were gay before they even knew. She just tells me 'don't be gay in public or don't act like you're with him' and I'm like 'ok mom whatever.'"
Alex said he has come to terms with the fact that he gets looks in public.
"I'm me and I don't really care what people think about me," he said. "I'm pretty sure people at school do care about me being gay, but I've either grown to not notice it or not care."
Alex said the hardest part about being gay is not knowing who you are.
"You have all of these thoughts and you're still just experiencing everything," he said. "You want to wait until the right time to come out but life is funny like that, and there is no 'right time.' It can only happen whenever you're ready. Everyone has to come to terms with themselves."
Alex said ignorance is also a big problem facing the gay community.
"People are not educated or accepting of gays and it may be fear," he said. "We have a large group of gays on campus. They just hide it very well."
Anjelica said a reason as to why she kept holding on the idea that she was a bisexual was to please everyone else.
"When I said I was bi, if people did not accept all of me then they could at least accept part of me," she said. "A lot of people, when they say they are bi, are just hanging on to a part of them that is 'normal.'"
Alex's Story
TJC student Alex said he came out when he was 15.
"I knew when I was 13, but I could never tell my mother," he said. "I was raised in a very large, Irish Catholic family."
Looking back, Alex said he knew he was 'different' when he was 4 years old.
"I never liked girls more than just friends," he said. "As a teenager, I was not attracted to hot teenage girls or celebrities. I was always attracted to the heartthrob male."
Alex said that when he did tell his mother, she did not have a confrontation.
"I have a lot of male gay cousins and I'm the youngest," he said. "So my mom knew they were gay before they even knew. She just tells me 'don't be gay in public or don't act like you're with him' and I'm like 'ok mom whatever.'"
Alex said he has come to terms with the fact that he gets looks in public.
"I'm me and I don't really care what people think about me," he said. "I'm pretty sure people at school do care about me being gay, but I've either grown to not notice it or not care."
Alex said the hardest part about being gay is not knowing who you are.
"You have all of these thoughts and you're still just experiencing everything," he said. "You want to wait until the right time to come out but life is funny like that, and there is no 'right time.' It can only happen whenever you're ready. Everyone has to come to terms with themselves."
Alex said ignorance is also a big problem facing the gay community.
"People are not educated or accepting of gays and it may be fear," he said. "We have a large group of gays on campus. They just hide it very well."
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 5
Bill
posted 2/05/10 @ 11:55 AM CST
After reading these stories, it occurs to me that we have done a grave disservice to our gay and lesbian children.
Choosing instead our silly little gods over the safety and well-being of our very own offspring. (Continued…)
soukari
soukari
posted 2/10/10 @ 12:01 PM CST
I think it is really good that you guys covered the LGBT community. It's a very touchy subject but it needed some light shed on to it. It was well written with very touching stories. (Continued…)
soukari
soukari
posted 2/10/10 @ 12:03 PM CST
You are absolutely right. People are people and everyone is different. Just becaus ewe can not be robots in the eyes of God does not mean we do not belong
Laura
posted 2/14/10 @ 11:09 AM CST
Thank God that this is has finally been covered. It was very well written, however, I would like to make a correction. Sexual preference implies that it's more of a sexual "choice". (Continued…)
terry
posted 2/14/10 @ 11:57 AM CST
I'm a young man of 54. the first straight guy i told in 1974 said, "so what, i like pickles on my hamburger". and he was nearly 70 years old. it's amazing that someone in that age group didnt care about it, so why should anyone these days care. (Continued…)
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