Guy

Guy, age 8

Seattle, Washington (1970)

Here I am, ready to spring into action to deliver Easter treats! I was really channeling the Easter Bunny: note the way I'm holding my hands to simulate paws. Of course, I hopped around as much as possible when in this costume. Walking was so banal and just not the Easter Bunny way.

I was also probably inspired by Bobby Van, and his hopping number from the film "Small Town Girl." Stereotypically, I have enjoyed musicals from an early age.

It's a family trait.

Proto-gay that I was, I loved the crafty and decorative aspects of Easter.

One year, I made little Easter baskets for my family. I filled them with candy and placed them outside my siblings' bedrooms very early on Easter morning. As if the Easter Bunny was some kind of springtime surrogate for Santa Claus.

I think costumes and masks have been important to a lot of gay kids, long before they knew they were gay. They provided the opportunity to take on other personalities.

Paradoxically, we were more ourselves in costumes and masks.


Dressing up, it's as though we could take on our true personalities using the pretense of those costumes, and the creative freedom they provided.

While I didn't know I was gay at this tender age, I knew I wasn't like most of my contemporaries. Despite that, I didn't have a particularly difficult childhood. I was fortunate to have 7 older siblings who came of age during the various social revolutions of the 60's and 70's.

They weren't wildly non-conformist, but they weren't conformist either. And they suggested the possibility of independent thought and becoming whoever I wanted to be. I was also lucky to grow up in a home where education was highly valued.

We were raised Catholic, but were encouraged to read and to explore a broader world of ideas. This provided so many options.

I can't remember any same sex crushes from that era. I'm sure I had them, but
I was fickle too - moving on from one to the next like, well, the Easter Bunny.
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Lulu

Lulu, age 5

Victoria, BC, Canada (1965)

That's me, the little boy - oops, grrrl - on the left with my brother and sister.

At some point, my mother gave up trying to dress me like a proper little girl for everyday wear. But then school came and spoiled all that.

I would tear my dress off the minute I got through the door at home, leaving a trail of clothes behind me.

I left elementary school as a happy heterosexual, and went that way through high school. And, on to a marriage and having my own daughter.

But today, I'm the happy little lesbian I feel I was born to be. Thankfully, these days, there is more freedom to be a square peg that doesn't fit into a round hole...

Jamie

Jamie, age 11

Whitehall, Ohio (1977)

This picture shows one of my last years trick-or-treating in costume. And I have no idea what prompted me to dress in drag. As an adult, I have no affinity for that. But I look a LOT like my mother in that getup.

From the age of about 4,
I knew I was different.

I loved "Wonder Woman," "Charlie's Angels" and "Three's Company."And ABBA.

After quickly learning the word "sissy," I also learned that it was BAD, and that it somehow applied to me.

I did everything I could to "butch up" and tried to cast aside anything girly or frilly.

This was kind of okay, as I loved trucks and cars, too.

So it wasn't hard to fake it.

I was uncoordinated and hated sports, so it was a struggle to "keep it in the closet." Fortunately, my straight brother was as uncoordinated and as unconventional as I was.

My mom had sussed me out, but we never admitted it to each other until I was 30. I knew, however, I was gay by the time I was 14. And after having attributed my feelings to "envy" before that.

I found this picture embarrassing for years. But I like it now.

Jamie's first, famous-person same sex crushes:

Lee Majors, Jameson Parker, & Parker Stevenson
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Darryl

Darryl, age 5

Niagara Falls, New York (1991)

The person I am today, is the same person I've been my entire life. I've always had the same enthusiasm and energy for life since the beginning.

I was best friends with all of the girls, and I did all the things they did, like playing with Barbies.

I mean, Barbie is iconic! Hello!

I knew it wasn't the norm, but my parents always accepted it. I knew
I had their blessing, no matter what I chose to do with my free time.

I definitely got teased a lot. And while it sounds cliche', it DOES make you stronger. It really does.

I came out at 15-years old, and I'm now approaching my 10-year anniversary of being an out and proud homosexual male.

I can't believe it's been a decade!


I think the thing that gives me the greatest joy in my life, is that I am able to be 100% who I want to be. But also with the complete support and love of my family and friends. What more can one ask for?

I wish the same for anyone and everyone who has been in the same shoes as me. So just be yourself, as there's no one else quite like you! And embrace it!
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Click here - "Born This Way: Real Stories of Growing Up Gay" book
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Rebecca

Rebecca, age 12

Louisa, KY (1986)

This pic was shot right after I forced my mother to cut my hair short. She had made me have it very long all of my life, all the way down to my butt. And I hated it. I told her that if she didn't cut it for me, I would cut it myself - LOL!

I am the youngest of 4 girls, and as far as I know, the only one who is lesbian.
I had always been a tomboy, but this was about the age that I started noticing other girls.

At this age, my favorite shows were "GI Joe" and "He-Man." I got picked on in school, but not for being gay. No one knew I was gay, or even knows now.
I have not come out to my family yet, but a few of my close friends know.

My message to gay children is to know that a lot of people can be very intolerant.
No matter how good of a person you are, there will always be those who oppose you. But don't let it get to you. Stand strong, and be yourself!

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

Jennifer Connelly
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AJ

AJ, age 3

Honolulu, HI (1984)

The only vacation my family ever really went on, was this vacation to Hawaii when I was 3-years old.

This photo was taken by a family member, and supposedly my father was VERY angry that I had put the flowers behind my ears like this.

In recent years, my father has told me he knew I was gay when I was 2-years old. So at this point, he must have been upset that his suspicions might actually be true.

I, though, have always loved this photo. Just look at that mug!

My only wish is that I had given more FACE, instead of just going for the model pout. But c'est la vie.