Posts Tagged ‘church’

Stanley

Published by beckatz on September 2nd, 2009 - in Video Stories

Stanley’s Coming Out Story from I Want the World to Know on Vimeo.

Stanley grew up in Mount Vernon, New York, in Westchester County on the border of the Bronx. He came out in the 1970′s and says that the Stonewall riots in 1969 played an important role in how he came to discover his own. sexuality. Stanley, a precocious child, became sexually active at an early age yet didn’t reconcile the physical aspect of being gay with the emotional side until many years later. Stanley also discusses the relationship between the black and gay communities based on his experience growing up gay in an atmosphere heavily inspired by the church. He believes that young people today should look to their elders for support and guidance and that the history of the LGBTQ movement is important to pass on to younger generations.

Josh, 17

Published by beckatz on August 10th, 2009 - in Video Stories

Josh posted his coming out story on youtube in July of 2008. He’s 17 and currently lives in a small Alabama town with his mother. Josh came out to his mother in the summer of 2007 at age 16 and then and at school the following year. When he finally came out he felt so relieved to be able to be open with himself and everyone around him. For Josh, school has been a roller coaster ride due to homophobic harassment in the form of verbal abuse. Josh is a senior this year and plans to attend college and major in art studio and minor in film. His goal is to use his art and any form of expression to expose people to his life and things so integral to his being such as sexuality. Josh says, “Life is beautiful and we should celebrate its diversity.” Josh is wise beyond his years and very brave. Please listen to his wonderful story.

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