by Sarah Angus I remember the first time I was told about homosexuality; I was in grade 4 or something, and the subject came up on CBC radio. I was sort of listening, and when it was over my mom asked me what my thoughts were on two people of the same sex loving each other. My mom didn't give her opinion first, she just let me say that I wasn't too sure about the whole idea. Then she told me that two of our long-time friends were lesbians. I was completely surprised at first - I'd never considered the idea - but then it made complete sense. At first when I became aware of homosexuality and the whole idea, I wasn't very comfortable with it. It just seemed unnatural for two women to have sex with one another or two men to kiss. I still don't like to think about the idea. But then again, I don't like to think about my parents, either! I don't know what it is like to be gay. But I do know many people who are homosexual. My parents have always had friends. My mother is in choir composed of mostly lesbian women. However, my parents don't go out of their way to meet gay people; in fact, whether someone is gay is simply not an issue for them. I have to disagree with people who think that being gay is a matter of choice. The majority of gay people wish they were straight, at least at some point in their life. I am personally very glad to be heterosexual, simply because I think it makes it much easier for me to accept myself. Many gay people go through complete hell, as they desperately want to be 'normal', but can't. One of the most interesting experiences I've ever had was going to a Pink Triangle Youth (PTY) meeting. One of my former Sunday School teachers took our group out to many social service networks around Ottawa, and one night it was PTY, a group for gay/lesbian/bisexual/ transexual youth. Let me say, it was one of the most eye-opening experiences I have ever had! There were about 20-25 people there, and I recognized 2 girls from my school. I hadn't known that they were gay, but again it made sense. The meeting included talking about recent experiences, how their parents had reacted to them coming out, how they viewed 'gay bars', the things that were bothering them, and generally, what it was like to be gay. Holy cow, was it ever revealing!! As much as I've been around gay people, I'd never heard them talk about their experiences as openly and freely as I did at PTY Above all, the whole place radiated honesty and openness. It was definitely odd being the only heterosexual in the room. That was totally weird, but it also made me realize what it's like to be 'different'. The atmosphere left a very deep impression on me; even in day-to-day life, I think we all wear 'masks' to some degree; we are almost always on our guard to defend ourselves and hide our feelings. But at this PTY meeting, there was such freedom! Nobody had to pretend they were somebody else, and people were simply asked to share themselves with the group. It was so cool to see such a diverse group of people able to relax and trust each other completely. Yeah, that was the word I was looking for... Trust! Their trust of one another blew me away. After all this, I am fine with people being gay. I think the diversity of our race is what makes it fascinating and powerful. If everyone were the same, life would be awfully boring! And in accepting differences, we cannot accept some while calling others 'sins'. Things that are different ARE scary, but we need to overcome our fears. A person's sexual orientation is only one part of their spirit. If they have many talents and goodness in their heart, they should be accepted for who they are. We must not condemn people for being different. It is these differences that we should cherish and hold up. It makes me very angry when 1 hear people 'gay-bashing' or using 'fag' or 'gay' as an insult; to me, being gay is not an insult. Judging people on their sexual orientation is just as bad as judging them on the colour of their skin. Both are stupid ways of deciding what kind of person they are, and racism and homophobia should be treated with the same seriousness. I don't understand how people readily make jokes about gays, then won't tolerate a joke about Jews or blacks. They are equally horrible. I don't understand it. Prejudice ' is everywhere. To the people who still aren't comfortable with homosexuality, I just say: don't worry about it - you'll probably never understand it, and you don't have to. Just to accept it, and try to stay open-minded. At least that's what I've tried to tell myself! Sarah was an active member of the First United youth group during the 1990s. This article shared with her permission.
by Sarah Angus
I remember the first time I was told about homosexuality; I was in grade 4 or something, and the subject came up on CBC radio. I was sort of listening, and when it was over my mom asked me what my thoughts were on two people of the same sex loving each other. My mom didn't give her opinion first, she just let me say that I wasn't too sure about the whole idea. Then she told me that two of our long-time friends were lesbians. I was completely surprised at first - I'd never considered the idea - but then it made complete sense.
At first when I became aware of homosexuality and the whole idea, I wasn't very comfortable with it. It just seemed unnatural for two women to have sex with one another or two men to kiss. I still don't like to think about the idea. But then again, I don't like to think about my parents, either!
I don't know what it is like to be gay. But I do know many people who are homosexual. My parents have always had friends. My mother is in choir composed of mostly lesbian women. However, my parents don't go out of their way to meet gay people; in fact, whether someone is gay is simply not an issue for them.
I have to disagree with people who think that being gay is a matter of choice. The majority of gay people wish they were straight, at least at some point in their life. I am personally very glad to be heterosexual, simply because I think it makes it much easier for me to accept myself. Many gay people go through complete hell, as they desperately want to be 'normal', but can't.
One of the most interesting experiences I've ever had was going to a Pink Triangle Youth (PTY) meeting. One of my former Sunday School teachers took our group out to many social service networks around Ottawa, and one night it was PTY, a group for gay/lesbian/bisexual/ transexual youth.
Let me say, it was one of the most eye-opening experiences I have ever had! There were about 20-25 people there, and I recognized 2 girls from my school. I hadn't known that they were gay, but again it made sense. The meeting included talking about recent experiences, how their parents had reacted to them coming out, how they viewed 'gay bars', the things that were bothering them, and generally, what it was like to be gay. Holy cow, was it ever revealing!!
As much as I've been around gay people, I'd never heard them talk about their experiences as openly and freely as I did at PTY Above all, the whole place radiated honesty and openness. It was definitely odd being the only heterosexual in the room. That was totally weird, but it also made me realize what it's like to be 'different'.
The atmosphere left a very deep impression on me; even in day-to-day life, I think we all wear 'masks' to some degree; we are almost always on our guard to defend ourselves and hide our feelings. But at this PTY meeting, there was such freedom! Nobody had to pretend they were somebody else, and people were simply asked to share themselves with the group. It was so cool to see such a diverse group of people able to relax and trust each other completely. Yeah, that was the word I was looking for... Trust! Their trust of one another blew me away.
After all this, I am fine with people being gay. I think the diversity of our race is what makes it fascinating and powerful. If everyone were the same, life would be awfully boring! And in accepting differences, we cannot accept some while calling others 'sins'. Things that are different ARE scary, but we need to overcome our fears.
A person's sexual orientation is only one part of their spirit. If they have many talents and goodness in their heart, they should be accepted for who they are. We must not condemn people for being different. It is these differences that we should cherish and hold up.
It makes me very angry when 1 hear people 'gay-bashing' or using 'fag' or 'gay' as an insult; to me, being gay is not an insult. Judging people on their sexual orientation is just as bad as judging them on the colour of their skin. Both are stupid ways of deciding what kind of person they are, and racism and homophobia should be treated with the same seriousness. I don't understand how people readily make jokes about gays, then won't tolerate a joke about Jews or blacks. They are equally horrible. I don't understand it. Prejudice ' is everywhere.
To the people who still aren't comfortable with homosexuality, I just say: don't worry about it - you'll probably never understand it, and you don't have to. Just to accept it, and try to stay open-minded. At least that's what I've tried to tell myself!
Sarah was an active member of the First United youth group during the 1990s. This article shared with her permission.