Nikki

Nikki, age 7
Wheeling, W. Virginia (1979)

I grew up in a Catholic household in West Virginia. I attended Catholic school for 12 years and never heard anyone talk about being gay until I was in high school. Of course, when I did hear these comments, they were not positive.

I think that I always knew that I was different than the other girls in my neighborhood and school. At that time, I had short hair and was into sports, more than any of my friends.

I resisted wearing dresses or anything girly. I spent my time hanging out with the boys in the neighborhood, playing tackle football, instead of playing house with the girls.

I remember once, right around age 7, telling one of my friends in the neighborhood that I was really a boy, but that we just told people that I was a girl.

I remember that the one thing she said was, "But then you won't be able to have babies!" I didn't really care about having babies, so I just shrugged my shoulders. But she was really upset about it.

She told her mom what I had told her. Her mom, of course, told my mom and
I got in trouble for lying. Looking back now, I know that I didn't really want to
be a boy. What I wanted was what boys could have: relationships with girls.

Today, I am completely out to my family and they have been very supportive.
I am also out at work and have some great, supportive co-workers.

What I would tell the youth of today, is to find people who will support you and
let you be yourself. Life is amazing when you can finally be yourself!

Nikki's first, famous-person same sex crush:
Nancy McKeon (Jo on "The Facts of Life")
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Also check out "My First Gay Crush Blog"

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Lori

Lori, age 9

Alexandria, Virginia (1976)

"Trick or treat"

I remember wanting to wear my brother's suits very badly when I was young.

Here, I creatively did this Mr. Bicentennial costume so that I could dress in a boy's suit for Halloween. I really felt like I was getting away with something.

I knew that I was different early in life. But it took until I was 23 to put those feeling into words, first to myself and then to let others know. I look at this picture now, and just laugh knowing exactly why my mother said "Yeah, I know" when I finally came out to her.

Even though she did know, she was still forever hoping that it would be a phase.
It took until my partner and I had children before she truly accepted my sexuality in a way that felt real.

I did not have many bad experiences with family or friends once I finally came out. Prior to coming out, I would often be around friends or family that made demeaning remarks about gay people. And it always made me feel bad.

Once I came out, I think it helped some of those individuals open their eyes to the fact that gay people are everywhere. And that we are not something to fear.

The message I would like to give gay kids now is:

No matter how difficult your situation is in your family, in your town, or in your school there are people to connect with that will help you through this. The most important step that you need to take is to let the words out to someone you trust.

Holding in those words about your truth is often what hurts the most.

Lori's first, famous-person same sex crush:

Kristy McNichol

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Click here - "Born This Way: Real Stories of Growing Up Gay" book
Click here - "My First Gay Crush Blog"

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Kyan

Kyan, age 4
Ripley, W. Virginia (1989)

As a child, I spent my earliest days with my sister helping to dress me in her or our mom's clothes. This was only interrupted by my love for Ninja Turtles, stuffed animals, and turning my bedroom into a store where I'd somehow convince my mom to pay me for things I found lying around the house.

"Who knew this rainbow would follow me for years to come?"

At the age I'm seen in the photos, I didn't realize that I was gay - although I imagine others around me suspected. It wasn't until late elementary school, around age 11, that I started to become aware.

As time went on, I had the Internet to help me make it through, connecting me with other gay men around the globe, and eventually the media provided me with great outlets to understand that life for a gay man could be great. And Queer As Folk became one of my favorite TV shows during high school.

Working through these feelings was far from easy, especially growing up in rural West Virginia - where the redneck and Republican to homosexual ratio is greatly skewed. I was also often reminded by my mother that gays would burn in hell. Fortunately, my mom has since become very supportive.

But I made it out alive and I'm living life to the fullest, with the same grin on my face I had in the photo.

Kyan's first, famous-person same sex crush:

Richard Dean Anderson ("MacGyver")
John Stamos ("Full House")

My attraction to John Stamos is one that has only grown stronger
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Click here - "Born This Way: Real Stories of Growing Up Gay" book
Click here - "My First Gay Crush Blog"

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Sara

Sara, age 8
Elkins, W. Virginia (1984)

I was always very athletic and fearless. I still am, but now I sport long hair thanks to my hippie genes.

From my earliest cognizant memories, I knew I was gay.

My parents knew too, and when I finally came out at age 13, their response was, 'Yeah, we know.'

I was very fortunate to grow up with extremely supportive parents and friends in rural West Virginia.

It gets a bad rap sometimes, but my experience was - and still is - that WV is a wonderful place to live and work for all types of folks.

Sara's first, famous-person same sex crush:
Barbra Streisand (in "Yentl")
Totally obvious