Interview with a Lesbian

In this interview we meet Sam, a gay teen who is a strong advocate for LGBT rights.

What do you identify as?

I identify as a gay girl! Lesbian to be specific, but I don't like the word. 

How old were you when you discovered you were gay? How did you discover it?

I'm not really sure when I came to the conclusion that I was gay, probably half way through seventh grade. I'd never really developed a crush on a boy, so I'd spent most of sixth and seventh grade thinking I was bi or pan, but eventually I came to the conclusion I was gay!

Who have you come out to?

I've come out to my mom, my close friends, and everyone who follows me on instagram! I made a coming out post half way through eight grade, but I came out to my close friends and mom closer to the beginning of the year.

Did you find it hard to motivate yourself to come out? What was hard about it?

I think the scariest part of coming out, and the part that kept me in the closet for so long, was probably the idea that people would treat me differently. I knew that my close friends, the majority of them being LGBT+ too would be supportive, but the idea of being viewed as different was really scary. I've always tried to fit in, so standing out was the scariest thing to me personally. 

Did you face homophobia when you came out? How did you deal with it?

Well that's a story! So right after I came out, I began wearing a rainbow "all families matter" pin on my backpack. I had dyed my hair purple, and was being very myself. I was walking out to the bus, and the kid behind me yelled after me (oh jeez I hate this word, sorry in advance), "Oy purple-haired faggot, walk faster!" and I damn near cried. One of my friends who I was walking with turned around and threatened to punch him, but in the end it all worked out. But it taught me that the world can be ugly, and it's not all happy and accepting. 

What advice would you have for someone who thinks they have the same or a similar identity to you?

So you think you're gay? Awesome. Trust me, no matter what anyone ever says to you, there's nothing wrong with who you are. You're a beautiful human being who was born to love who you love. Be proud of who you are, you're amazing. Don't let anyone ever tell you that your sexuality is wrong, of that you're broken. You may be made fun of or teased, but I promise you, it'll get better. Only come out when it's safe, never come out to homophobic parents if you still live with them. Show pride in who you are, you're beautiful and amazing!