* CNN.com & AOL News Videos *

Hey everyone!
This is just a fantastic feature! Much of my mission statement
for the "BTW" blog is in the video, so I hope you enjoy it!

xo - Paul V.

* THANK YOU SO MUCH, CNN.COM! *



Click below to see the feature with full text and other quotes.
www.cnn.com/2011/LIVING/03/09/born.this.way/index.html


On 3/10/11, AOL News posted this great video as well:



http://www.aolnews.com/2011/03/10/what-can-a-picture-reveal-about-your-sexual-preference-video

And I'd like to repeat this quote here, so it's clear to everyone:
"Stereotypes exist for a reason, because they are true on some level. As the gay community has every shade of masculine and feminine, the people on my blog are simply representing -- and owning -- all those various shades, but without the shame or guilt that society has assigned to those traits."

Wes

Wes, age 9

Nashville, TN (1985)

In 1985, I was a 9-year old boy infatuated with superheroes, He-Man, and professional wrestling. I think that should have been my first indication there was something different about me.

It wasn't until around age 11 that I had a word to put with my feelings, and knew concretely that I was gay.

Now as an adult, I am still head over heels about superheroes.

And I know that as difficult as it was being different, I wouldn't have traded it for the world.

Gay by birth, Geek by choice.

Wes' first, famous-person same sex crush:

Joe Penny (in "Riptide")
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Annie

Annie, age 9

Fort Walton Beach, FL (1992)

I was a tomboy as a child. I spent my time riding bikes with my best friend
(a boy) and climbing trees. When family got together, my female cousins and I would spend a lot of time playing dress up and putting on "shows". As you can see, I was willing to dress the part of the boy in our performances.

I didn't come to terms with the fact that I was gay until after I had graduated college. I spent a lot of time going through the motions of dating guys and fulfilling expectations.

When I finally did come out, and embraced who I was and the feelings I was having, I discovered a lot of gay moments I'd had in retrospect.

For instance, I'm quite sure my first crush was my 1st grade teacher,

Ms. Lutrell.

Looking at the photo today amuses me, as I consider myself a "femme" lesbian, and I don't wear men's clothes as an adult.

But it's interesting to look at this photo and realize I was comfortable exploring gender roles, even at a very young age. 

Today, I am out and proud and have an amazingly supportive family, for whom I am extremely grateful.

Alan

Alan, age 12

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada (1978)

My first memory of being "different" or gay happened when I was probably no more than 7 or 8 years old. I was taking swimming lessons at the local YMCA, and I remember a man walked into the pool area and sat down, waiting for our class to be over. He was very cute and had a very hairy chest.

All I can remember was being mesmerized by him. I wanted to swim over there and rub my hand over his chest, as I had never seen anything like that before. To this day, over 35 years later, I can still picture him in my mind.

I grew up in a very strict Roman Catholic family. It wasn't until I went away for university that I was able to be true to myself. Many, many times I wanted to go to the student gay club, but I just couldn't muster up the courage to do it.

Finally, I met a lesbian, and we became very good friends. A few months later I told her I was gay too, and she was so happy.

It felt great to be able to true to myself. It wasn't always easy, but I am happiest knowing that I am true to myself, and I'm at peace. 

I now live in Toronto, and was formerly the Treasurer of the Toronto Pride parade. I have met so many great people there; friends who I still have today, and friends I wouldn't have if I wasn't true to myself and made it through.

It took me a long to say "I am gay" out loud. There were a lot of tears, a lot of stress, and a lot of sleepless nights. But I wouldn't change my life.

Everyone's time to decide to be true to themselves, is their own to make. It may be in your teens, 20's, or even later. But only you know when it's the right time.

Never be ashamed of who you are, never apologize for who you are, and be PROUD of who you are.

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

Lee Majors ("The Six Million Dollar Man")

He was very rugged, very confident, and very sexy.

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Michelle

Michelle, age 5

Limerick, Ireland (1998)

Growing up in Ireland, I was always a little tomboy. I didn't mind getting dirty,  and I spent around 6 years in a pair of denim dungarees. This was shot at my grandmother's farm, and notice the rainbows on my t-shirt - very fitting!

I realized when I was very young that I felt different from other girls. My first crush was Ginger Spice from the Spice Girls. I think it was our common red-headedness that sealed the deal for me. I wanted to marry her.

I didn't realize till later that most girls my age wanted to marry the Backstreet Boys instead.


I never chose to be anything: I was just a carefree, little, gay Irish girl from day one. That's who I see when I look at this picture now.

I came out to my parents when I was 13, and they were fantastic about it. They loved me even more for the courage it took to do so. They even walked with me last year in the Gay Pride parade.

I may only be 18 now, but I feel like I have wisdom and experience beyond my years from coming out so early.

To anyone out there who feels like they need to hide I say this: Hiding who you are may be easier, but trust me, the freedom that comes with being honest, open and proud is truly a million times better. I wouldn't change myself for the world.

Love the gay child you once were, and love the gay adult you are now.

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

Geri Halliwell (Ginger Spice, The Spice Girls)
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Paul

Paul, age 2

Fort Worth, TX (1969)

Here I am at age 2. I don't have a significant number of memories from this time, but don't I look great? The pink balloon and the Hollywood shades say it all. While I grew up in a city, my family had ties to ranching and farming, and I did not enjoy the "man's work" that was involved on the ranch that much.

While I didn't mind shooting a gun and fishing, I did not enjoy digging post holes. My "moment of knowing" I was different was probably watching game shows with my mom. Paul Lynde ("Hollywood Squares") and Charles Nelson-Reilly ("Match Game") always made my mom and I laugh. It was sort of a secret we shared, because my dad and brother never really got that humor.

My first same-sex crush was probably Shaun Cassidy on "The Hardy Boys" TV show. And now that I think about it, I think I liked Parker Stevenson more. But Shaun had that album with "Da Doo Ron Ron," and I played it over and over, singing into a hairbrush the whole time.

As for a message to young kids now, whether gay or not, my advice would be:

Live your own life.

It's tough sometimes for everyone. Gay kids aren't the only ones with rough times. We're at a time in history of telling straight kids to understand how tough life is for gay kids - but like so much else in life, it's a two-way street.

Those straight kids may be going through some pretty rough times, too. While I'm not religious now, I like the the part of the prayer of St. Francis which says, "Seek first to understand, then to be understood". Another great quote is from a bumper sticker: "Prejudice rarely survives experience."

Gay kids: reach out to your straight classmates and help them through a tough time. I promise, they will be there for you when it's your turn.

PS: I'm really thankful for whoever took this picture, and that it survived!

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

Parker Stevenson & Shaun Cassidy ("The Hardy Boys")
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