Zip Code:

60014

Status:

Partner, 9 years

Two of the kids I taught in middle school are now fine young men attending the college where I currently work  - and both are gay.  One is out and one is not, but both feel comfortable talking to me, because I am open about supporting gay rights.  I display a Pride triangle on my bag, have a rainbow ribbon on my cubicle, and attend the student Pride group meetings to show the students my support, and am glad they are open to confiding in me and asking my advice.

The hardest thing is how alone these students feel.  In my suburban area, there aren't big Pride marches, pink triangle stickers on businesses, or a sense of safe community that can sometimes be found in a city.  When I teach art classes I often run up against gender bias in the youngest of my students, and do my best to dispel those stereotypes.

If I were to wish for something for the future, it would be to have more support and community acceptance for bisexual people like myself.  Sometimes I feel as though both gay and straight people don't accept me.  I feel as though I am being told to "make up my mind", or being discounted because I'm just "confused."  I am lucky to have a supportive partner, and I hope that adding my story to these pages will help more people think about all parts of LGBT.