in the eleventh grade, i was outed to my mother by the attendance counselor at my school for holding hands with another girl. i was falsely accused of being lewd in the school and making the school look bad...for being gay, even though i had never engaged in any sexual act with a girl or even had a girlfriend. this man went to my internship and said the same thing to my supervisor there. he told teachers and faculty that i, a straight-a honor society student, taking classes at george washington university at 15 years old, as well as achieving in athletics for two schools in dc...that i made them look bad. for holding hands with a girl.

my mother immediately forbade all girls from calling my house, forced me to go to church DAILY, made all the church officials pray for me then accused me of resisting my deliverance. i was not allowed to leave my house unless i was escorted. i couldn't play ball without constant supervision, even in the locker rooms during halftime. all of my female friends were harassed. i was forced to wear skirts three times a week to school and forced to wear my hair out. i was beat, kicked out, verbally maimed, disowned financially, and dismissed by those i loved and unable to outlet to anyone who understood. i got to college, thinking i was free, and was discriminated against by administrative officials and teachers. i was denied independent status even though my parents had disowned me, but they made too much for me to receive financial aid. financial aid told me that since my sexuality was a CHOICE, it was my own fault. it is my seventh year and i'm finally graduating.

after coming out, i wanted to die. i hated life. i hated myself. but i never hated heterosexuals. and it boggles me how some heterosexuals can show disgust for love that has nothing to do with them. or condemn a day that doesn't even have anything to do with them. i go to the pride parades because it is the the ONLY place i can express myself openly without fear of being attacked, accosted, or verbally abused.

so if you are one who can find a reason to hate on pride parades, then fuck you very much. bitch my mother doesn't love me...i got bigger problems. to the heterosexuals who show love and tolerance...peace.

below is a list of SOME of the HETEROSEXUAL privileges. it's a long list, isn't it???

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1. I can go into a music store and find the language of my sexual orientation represented in the lyrics.

2. Television and movies reflect my relationships in widely diverse and nonstereotypical ways.

3. My children are given texts and information at school that validates my sexual orientation.

4. Society encourages me to marry and celebrates my commitment.

5. As a responsible and loving parent, I won't lose my children in a custody battle because of my sexual orientation.

6. I can easily buy postcards, books, greeting cards, and magazines featuring relationships like mine.

7. I don't have to worry about being fired or denied housing because of my sexual orientation.

8. I can be sure that if my spouse is in the hospital and incapacities, I can visit and will be consulted about any decisions that need to be made.

9. Insurance provided by my employer covers my spouse and my children.

10. Hand holding with my love is seen as acceptable and endearing.

11. I can serve my country in the military without lying or keeping silent about my family.

12. I can keep pictures of my loved one on my desk at work without fear or reprisal.

13. I will receive all of my deceased spouse's estate, tax-free.

14. I never need to change pronouns when describing the events of my life in order to protect my job, my family, or my friendships.

15. If I'm a teenager, I can enjoy dating, first loves, and all the social approval of learning to love appropriately.

16. If I'm called to work with children or to serve God (in most denominations). I don't have to violate my integrity and lie in order to keep my job.

17. As a responsible and loving adult, I can adopt without lying about my sexual orientation.

18. I feel welcomed and accepted in my church.

19. I can be certain that my children won't be harassed because of my sexual orientation.

20. I can count on my community of friends, strangers, and institutions to celebrate my love and my family, mourn my losses, and support my relationships.

21. I can be pretty sure that my roomate, hallmates and classmates will be comfortable with my sexual orientation.

22. When I talk about my heterosexuality (such as in a joke or talking about my relationships), I will not be accused of pushing my sexual orientation onto others.

23. I do not have to fear that if my family or friends find out about my sexual orientation there will be economic, emotional, physical or psychological consequences.

24. I did not grow up with games that attack my sexual orientation (IE fag tag or smear the queer).

25. I am not accused of being abused, warped or psychologically confused because of my sexual orientation.
I can go home from most meetings, classes, and conversations without feeling excluded, fearful,
26. attacked, isolated, outnumbered, unheard, held at a distance, stereotyped or feared because of my sexual orientation.

27. I am never asked to speak for everyone who is heterosexual.

28. I can be sure that my classes will require curricular materials that testify to the existence of people with my sexual orientation.

29. People don't ask why I made my choice of sexual orientation.

30. My sexual orientation was never associated with a closet.

31. People of my gender do not try to convince me to change my sexual orientation.

32. I don't have to defend my heterosexuality.

33. I can count on finding a therapist or doctor willing and able to talk about my sexuality.

34. I am guaranteed to find sex education literature for couples with my sexual orientation.

35. Because of my sexual orientation, I do not need to worry that people will harass me.

36. I have no need to qualify my straight identity.

37. My masculinity/femininity is not challenged because of my sexual orientation.

38. I am not identified by my sexual orientation.

39. I can be sure that if I need legal or medical help my sexual orientation will not work against me.

40. If my day, week, or year is going badly, I need not ask of each negative episode or situation whether it has sexual orientation overtones.

41. Whether I rent or I go to a theater, Blockbuster, an EFS or TOFS movie, I can be sure I will not have trouble finding my sexual orientation represented.

42. I can walk in public with my significant other and not have people double-take or stare.

43. I can choose to not think politically about my sexual orientation.

44. I do not have to worry about telling my roommate about my sexuality. It is assumed I am a heterosexual.

45. I can remain oblivious of the language and culture of LGBTQ folk without feeling in my culture any penalty for such oblivion.

46. I can go for months without being called straight.

47. I'm not grouped because of my sexual orientation.

48. My individual behavior does not reflect on people who identity as heterosexual.

49. In everyday conversation, the language my friends and I use generally assumes my sexual orientation. For example, sex inappropriately referring to only heterosexual sex or family meaning heterosexual relationships with kids.

50. People do not assume I am experienced in sex (or that I even have it!) merely because of my sexual orientation.

51. Nobody calls me straight with maliciousness.

52. People can use terms that describe my sexual orientation and mean positive things (IE "straight as an arrow", "standing up straight" or "straightened out" ) instead of demeaning terms (IE "ewww, that's gay" or being "queer" ) .

53. I can if I wish arrange to be in the company of people of my sexuality most
of the time.

54. If I should need to move, I can be pretty sure that my neighbors in such a
location will be neutral or pleasant to me.

55. When I am told about our national heritage or about "civilization," I am
shown that people of my sexuality made it what it is.

56. I can be sure I will not be denied insurance, employment or credit due to
my sexuality.

57. I can arrange to protect my children most of the time from people who
might not like them.

58. I can remain oblivious of the culture and customs of homosexuals and
bisexuals without feeling in my culture any penalty for such oblivion.

59. I can be pretty sure that if I ask to talk to "the person in charge," I
will be facing a person of my sexuality.

60. I needn't hide my sexuality in certain situations for personal safety.

61. I can leave a nightclub consisting mostly of people of my sexuality
knowing I will not get harassed or attacked for my sexuality.

62. I can go home from most meetings of organizations I belong to feeling
somewhat tied in, rather than isolated, out-of-place, outnumbered, unheard,
held at a distance, or feared.

63. I need not fear financial and emotional truncation from my family simply
due to my sexuality.