Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset UK (1988)
The picture shows me a little disheveled looking. I don't think I look much different these days, though my little brother here has changed a lot! I suppose the earliest sign that I was gay was that out of the four sons she had, my mother always described me saying, "He was never any trouble at all."
I was a very gentle, sensitive child. Unlike my little brother, who was an absolute nightmare who never stopped screaming and crying!
I knew I was gay from the get-go, and it sometimes caused me embarrassment. Like entering a flower arranging competition at school, simply because I wanted to arrange flowers.
Why? Because I loved flowers!
And I didn't think anyone would notice I was the only boy to enter a flower arranging competition.
Unfortunately, for me, I won!
I had to accept a prize in front of the whole school. And because I was a boy,
I think some bitter parents bypassed the early signs I was gay. I think they assumed my mother had created the arrangement, and I was simply cheating.
Ironically, my dad had picked the flowers, but it was all arranged by myself.
The obvious "gay" behaviors I exhibited were never discouraged by my family.
At my grade school, I was friends with everyone in my class, and we all loved each other. So I never felt that I should be deeply worried about being different. Although, I was definitely aware of it.
It wasn't until Jr. High when things changed and I realized my gayness was something to not draw attention to, despite it targeting me for daily insults.
Today I can say I know that things do get better as you get older. And now I hope sometimes to bump into old bullies from school and not be scared of being gay.
It's such a liberation, not being embarrassed or ashamed anymore.
And I still love flowers!
----------------------------------
Taken from: "http://borngaybornthisway.blogspot.com"
Cozad, NB (1964)
My name is Kevin and I'm originally from a small town in Nebraska.
At the time this photo was taken, I was joyful, giddy, fearless, and ready to perform.
I mean, who wouldn't want to dance around on stage and receive all that attention? I remember being especially excited to see the older girls with their fire batons.
The baton lessons lasted only one summer, and after that I started to get the message that:
"Boys don't twirl the baton or play with Barbie."
It was around this same time that I remember being fascinated by the older boys at the pool. Although it wasn't until I was 20 that I embraced my sexual identity.
It took me a long time to get comfortable with this image, but now I look at it with great affection.
Sometimes I wonder who I would have become if I'd been in a more "artistic" family, or had any gay role models.
That being said, my parents did the best that they could, and Mom continues to show her love and support.
------------------
Taken from : http://www.BornThisWayBlog.com