“On the night Jane Clementi learned that Tyler was gay, she said, ‘I told him not to hurt himself.’ Not long before, a girl from his school had committed suicide. (Parker, pg. 40)

“Studies suggest that one third of all teens who commit suicide are gay or lesbian. (Brown, pg. 62)

These words strike a chord with me on many different levels. Where do I even begin? How many of us, now as adults who survived the excruciating process of coming out, strongly identify with the sense of utter despair during the years leading up to coming out, the act itself, and sadly during the years after? Many go into these intense conversations with our families telling ourselves that they may be the last conversations we have before being disowned. That is a gut-wrenching feeling. It’s a rotten feeling to think that one moment your parents will tell you they love you only to be followed up the next minute with a complete disapproval of your very being and your place in the family unit. Continue reading How long do words stick with you? →