John

John, age 4

Flushing Meadow Park, New York (1965)

That's me in the front with my two older brothers at the 1964-65 New York World's Fair. My father was the manager of the General Motors Futurama exhibit, and we would spend every other weekend visiting the fair.

Even barely 4-years old, I can remember being obsessed with those sunglasses.

My father told me it was bad for my eyes to wear sunglasses indoors. Otherwise, I would have worn them all the time.

I suppose this picture reminds me that I have always been a bit different.


I became aware of my attraction to boys my own age around 11, but I didn't really start coming out to friends or family until I was 20; no one was surprised.

And I was lucky, because only one friend had trouble with my coming out, and he got over it. Both my brothers, my parents, and my family were (and are) supportive of who I am. And being gay is just one of the things I am.

I'm 49 now and live in San Francisco. My life is not perfect, but I am mostly happy. And I have friends - many who are gay, and many who are not - and they all know who I am.

Of all the challenges of my life, being gay hasn't been a problem. I think if anything, being gay has turned out to be a positive thing. Growing up different means having to discover yourself in ways that 'normal' people don't.

I was born this way, and I'm happy with who I am.

And, you will find that being who you are is part of being happy.

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

Guy Williams (the dad on "Lost In Space")
I think I became fascinated with him watching re-runs of the show.
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Burl

Burl, age 5

Machesney Park, IL (1985)

My obsession with He-Man & The Masters of the Universe began at age 4.

My mother introduced me to She-Ra, and bought me a Crystal Castle playset for my 5th birthday - even though those toys were marketed towards girls.

Years later, she explained she knew I was gay at an early age, by quoting the appropriately titled Masters of the Universe episode, "The Rainbow Warrior" :

"A mother always knows her own son . . . I've always been very proud of you."

I am truly blessed to have a mother who has always loved and supported me.

Cathy

Cathy, age 4
Burlington, Ontario, Canada (1967)

I initially thought I was pretending to be a pilot here, but my mum thought
I was pretending to be a racecar driver. Then, it dawned on me: Speed Racer!
I was pretending to be Speed Racer, one of my favorite cartoons as a kid. I loved action/adventure stories, and it always struck me that boys always had way more to do than the girls. And had way more, fun both on TV and in real life. When I played dress-up with siblings or friends, I'd play a boy – and had a blast.

I came out as a lesbian when I was 25, after a drawn-out period of internal exploration and a lot of diary notes. I was in my 3rd year at theater school, and my good friend Tom (the only out gay person in my class at the time), was there to support me. Tom took me to my first lesbian bar, which was a scary and exciting experience. And I was there for him as he lived with his HIV diagnosis and, a short time later, full-blown AIDS.

There are two names inked in a memorial banner around a Sacred Heart tattoo on my left bicep: Tom and Mima (my maternal grandmother, who I gave that nickname). Tom for his love and support with my coming to terms with who
I was, and Mima for her unconditional love and encouragement for what I wanted to do with my life: being a grown-up playing dress-up, as an actor.

My Mima always supported my choice to pursue the arts, and died before I came out to my extended family. But I think she would have been okay with that too.

This is my favorite photo of myself. It reminds me of the joy, imagination, and fearlessness at the core of my being. And, how these moments are often forgotten or set aside, in the workaday "grown-up" world.

I endeavor to not forget. I strive to be my whole self. So be fearless – be yourself.

Cathy's first, famous-person same sex crush:
Julie Andrews (in "The Sound of Music ")
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Click here - "Born This Way: Real Stories of Growing Up Gay" book
Click here - "My First Gay Crush Blog"
Click to follow this blog with Bloglovin' Tweet

* 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.