This comment of the day was by Paul on the post “How to Be Openly Gay and in School—High School.“
Kids starting calling me faggot by the time I was in 4th grade. I never “came out”. I was outed before I even knew what the word meant. And yes, they made life difficult for me right through high school. And no surprise, it was the very same kids throughout my entire school career who were the meanest to me. I came to loathe certain boys. I never once kissed another boy in front of anybody. Or held another boy’s hand. I didn’t flout anything. They picked me for harassment, and they picked me because they suspected I was gay. I didn’t ask for any of it. But I got it.
But I turned it around on them. When a bully would confront me and push me around, I would tell them I wouldn’t fight back. I was not going to give them what they wanted. And I would sarcastically tell them they would look really tough beating up the wimpy faggot who wouldn’t even raise a hand. Go ahead. Their girlfriends weren’t impressed by this behavior in their boyfriends. No matter how much the bigots hate gay people, they don’t want to look like bigots, even when they are. You have to make their hatred crystal clear to everyone, then they become the assholes, not you, the gay kid.
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photo: mattcameasarat / flickr