People like you will have a impact on our community for the better.

Thank you for having the courage to say this here.

I was raised to hate Gays too, unfortunately I was the object of my hate. That brought near fatal results. Thank you

>>> It's not just a struggle about "you people", but for all people. I want my kids to grow up in a world where sexuality and orientation and gender identity isn't something to be ashamed of or hidden.>>>

That's something that eludes most of us... including a lot of us LGBTs. Homophobia hurts *everyone*.

Every. One.

Quite seriously, I didn't get this through my own thick skull 'til a few years ago. And it only came verrrryyyy gradually.

It sounds ironic. Even ridiculous. Straight people don't jump off bridges because of it. But they are so unnerved by the mythology and bullshit the culture offers up about this topic that some of them feel compelled to make OTHER people want to take the leap.

K and R

I'm sure that wasn't easy to say. Good for you

... and it feels like the right thing to do.

I'll gladly return that hug.

As was mentioned by another poster above, it was a slow change in me too. However, having children really sent me over the tipping point. One of my favorite Sergeants when I was in the Army once told me that if he ever found out that his son was gay that he'd disown him. I didn't really think about that until I had kids of my own and I realized that there is nothing my kids could do to make me not love them. I couldn't immagine someone not loving their kid anymore because of their sexuality. This one statement of my favorite Sergeant has really stained my impression of him.

Rather recently I watched a documentary about transgendered children. That was a real eye opener to me too. Again, I just couldn't immagine not loving my child. I was very touched by how the parents stood by their young children, accepted, and loved their children for who they were.

What type of parent wants to see their child fail and struggle in life? Why would you want to load your kid with all this extra baggage by not loving and providing a nurturing relationship for them? I just don't get it.

I've turned into a big softie in recent years, but that is another story. This sort of things brings tears to my eyes.

Should be required reading around here. Thank you!

"As truth is gathered, I rearrange".

So happy for you, and the personal epiphany you have had, and thank you for sharing it with us.

Welcome to DU!

Growing up gay in a redneck town was brutal for me. It got so bad I ran away repeatedly until I got emancipated and finished out high school away from there. LBGT communities in cities everywhere are full of refugee's from fundamentalist hate.

I grew up in a small town of about 3,500 people. I graduated high school and went on to college. I remember thinking it was kind of funny when I found out that several people I knew "came out" when they moved out of my town. I'm not going to get into the brutality that I saw in my hometown.

I was never outwardly aggressive with my hate, but I did stand idly by and let a lot of things happen in front of me. The quiet people like me are just as much of the problem as the bullies themselves. People like me give them a feeling of consensus and courage.

I never experienced being on the point of hate that you have. I can only try to immagine what it was like. I truly am sorry for my part in it all.