David

David, age 9
Longview, TX (1978)

"Grease" was the word back then, and I was no exception. Seeing John Travolta on the big screen gave me a funny feeling in my nether regions. And I knew then that something was different from the other boys who had the same reaction, except over Olivia Newton-John.

I believe I wore this T-shirt out.
It basically fell apart, and still I fought my mom to keep it.

The music of the day was, yes, disco, and I loved it: "Knock On Wood,"
"Le Freak," "Heart of Glass" etc.

I even had my very own polyester Hustle suit, performing "Do The Hustle" to anyone who'd watch.

It's no wonder I was picked on, since
I would wear my suit to school and dance The Hustle there as well.


Growing up in a small town isn't unique. Yet I felt the brunt of being different more, because I'd been molested during this time. In this photo, I see the David who trusted everyone. And a boy with deep sadness behind those smiling eyes.

My experiences as a young gay boy in a small - and small-minded - town were typical: extreme bullying from both boys and girls. Now that I can look back,
I still see the looks on the faces of those who were fearful of what I represented.

But now, I also see the fear in their eyes. They're the product of parents who were ignorant, and it trickled down to their children.

Life has been kind to me through the years, so I can, with ease, forgive those trespasses against me. And I am more able to love and receive love, because of the tough experiences that I thought would never to end.

But they most certainly do end, and life gets so much more rich as one matures.
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Also check out "My First Gay Crush Blog"

Sandy

Sandy, age 10
Etiwanda, CA (1979)

I was always a "tomboy" growing up. My parents allowed me to participate in team sports, which was rare for girls during the 1970's. The organization I played for was called Miss Softball America, and they wouldn't allow girls to wear sliding pants. So we had to wear these mini skirt/shorts combinations.

I grew up loving softball and was the only freshman on the Varsity team in high school.

I started getting crushes on girls that I played softball with when I was around 8-years old. Of course,
I didn't think of them as crushes.
I just thought I was normal and that everyone felt as intensely towards their friends as I did.

My family was ultra conservative and religious, so I don't even remember hearing the word, "lesbian" until I got older.

I was never really interested in boys, but had some boyfriends growing up. Usually those boys liked me, because I could play ball with them.

Even in high school while my friends were going boy crazy, I was too busy writing poetry for my female friends. I still didn't think of myself as a lesbian.

It wasn't until I moved out on my own that I discovered my sexuality. The first time I kissed a woman, I finally understood why I had never felt passionate about a man before. It was a completely different experience, and it felt totally normal. My childhood of crushing on girls finally made sense!

That was many years ago, and I have never felt ashamed or wrong. And I have to laugh when I see people saying homosexuality is a "learned behavior."

I was totally and completely exposed only to heterosexuality as a kid - and I still came out gay. And I'm still playing softball today. Now at age 41, I'm loving my life as an out and proud lesbian.

Sandy's first, famous-person same sex crushes:
Sharon Gless (on "Cagney & Lacey")
Dana Delany (on "China Beach")
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Also check out "My First Gay Crush Blog"

Reidar

Reidar, age 7
Seattle, Washington (1975)

Just a submission of me on my 7th birthday. I loved my Big Josh doll, who was a friend of Big Jim.

Our parents would usually try to get my brother and I similar gifts.

As our birthdays are just days apart,
Big Josh was my present.

Even though I had no idea what gay was back then, I knew I really liked that doll.....er....."action figure" a lot.

And I think my pic sure shows it. LOL!

My message to youth is:
Be yourself. The world today is a better place because of diversity.
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Click here - "Born This Way: Real Stories of Growing Up Gay" book
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Adelina

Adelina, age 6
Panagyurishte, Bulgaria (1994)

Here I am at my 6th birthday, posing with a doll. As you can see, I wasn't very happy about that fact. I'm not sure if I cried then, but being a very sensitive child, I probably did. I was a very serious and quiet kid, and always full of questions -
'Why, how, where…?' I'm blessed my parents felt it was right to answer them all.

I've always felt different, but the knowledge of it came later at school. I realized just how different I was from my classmates, when I was 15-years old. At 17,
I came out to a few friends, then my sister. And soon after, to my parents as well.

Even now there are people who say my being gay is just a phase. But, there are mainly wonderful people who support me, and who are so gay friendly that even I am surprised.

Now, I know I'm much stronger than the kid in my picture, and no one can tell me to do things I don't want to do. Now I'm being myself, proud of who I am.

As a young gay adult myself, all I want to tell gay kids today is:
Be strong, be proud, be loud, go out!
Because nothing can hurt you more, than not being yourself.

Adelina's first, famous-person same sex crush:
Melina Kanakaredes (on "Providence")
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Also check out "My First Gay Crush Blog"

Robert

Robert, age 3
Torrance, CA (1974)

Here I am with my proud dad and mom.

By this age, I had to wear those glasses and an eye patch, to correct an eye problem I was born with.

If you look closely, I'm wearing a butch Rams football jacket.

But to make up for that,
I am also holding my own purse, and a pink flower in the other hand.

Also check out
"My First Gay Crush"

Robyn

Robyn, age 3
La Grange, Illinois (1987)

This is me, my baby sister, and my grandma. I am on the left, of course!

I was always a late bloomer, in all aspects of my life.

I didn't come out until after
I graduated college. But somewhere deep inside,
I knew I was queer by age 3.

I mean, look at this photo!

I know the photos we submit don't need to "scream gay" to be posted on this site...

But I think this one does just that!
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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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