Aside from the being gay part, I can relate.

At some point you have to decide to be strong and get through it. People can give you all kinds of pep talks, but at the end of the day you've got to own it and not care what other people think about you... because their opinions about you are meaningless; you have to learn to filter bad stuff or you'll just be saddled by it. Don't carry it around. Any negative thing said to you about the way you are isn't worth a second thought.

If the people in your life don't make your life better... find other people. If you are being abused, get out of the situation.

Do not harm yourself.


The upshot is that once you meet people who are worth being with and building a life around, life will be that much better.

I love it.

He's in a really bad head space. What was done to him is horrific on so many different levels. He's in a dark place right now and I really hope someone from PFLAGATL searches him out. He's gotten some good advice as comments to his video, I hope it gets through to him.

(I think) in his mind that it won't get any better ... that's not good. Hopefully the comments will change his mind. The ones I looked at were excellent. I hope some butt-head doesn't get on there and start posting horrible crap.

for you young man.......I am way up here in Seattle, very far away from Atlanta, and here in Seattle, we have a place for gay, lesbian, bi, trans and questioning youth aged 22 and under......it is called Lambert House and their website is lamberthouse.org. I volunteered there from 2003 until 2006 and it is a safe and wonderful place for youth who are in your same situation. As you may or may not know, here in Washington State we have legalized same sex marriage and the Seattle area is very accepting of the LGBT community. I am not suggesting that you pack up and move out here, I am just letting you know that there are people everywhere who will help you and be with you and be on your side and who will love you and treat you the way any kid should be treated.

Now I am sure that there must be some place in Atlanta where you can get this same kind of help and caring. I know that major cities have free counseling services and hopefully you can check on that. Just don't do anything rash or stupid, you look like and sound like an intelligent kid and you have taken and huge step by posting this video on YouTube.......congratulations for having that courage.

Take good care of yourself, I know that I would be extremely proud if you were my son.....at my age most likely you'd be my grandson, but nonetheless Gates Austin, there is help for you, I know that for a fact. Go for it!!

This was on my facebook as part of a national gay rights group so I don't know him at all. They were trying to get youtube comments for him and figured it was a good idea. Thanks.

to post it to his You Tube, but I can't figure out how to do it......I right clicked on the video as the original post said, but I could not figure it out.....I am a computer dummy.....can someone help me to post on his You Tube account?

You need to make a youtube account if you don't have one, and then you will be able to comment.

great, thanks for the tip......I'll do it right now

was too long for you tube so I put it as a message on his facebook page.....I hope he gets it OK

I just got an email response from Austin via youtube service and he is going to check on Lambert House.....how I hope he can find the help he needs.......if I could, I would love to have him come to Seattle for our Gay Pride at the end of June and be in the parade with me and the Lambert House kids.......

If his mother is not willing to accept him the way he is then hopefully he will get to the right place in his head to go out and build in a new family of people who will love him and accept him for the person he is.

Is this child still in his mother's care? If he is me or someone else should seriously report this. I had to help a friend deal with a similar situation. It only escalates if he stays, he needs to get out of her house if he can.