Coming Out in Dallas, TX

By Marki Anderson

I live in a small town southeast of Dallas and came out at a very young age.

When I was fourteen I told my mom about my first girlfriend and I and how I felt. At the moment she was stunned but assumed it was just a phase. As the years went on the reality set in and she began to worry over how much trouble I will have to face in my life on top of all of the typical obstacles teenagers have to overcome. I dealt with name calling and sometimes even physical abuse from my peers throughout high school, along with discrimination from staff and even one teacher telling me in front of a class that I will go to hell. Throughout all of this my family was there for me, and I love them more than anything for it. In the end I lost a few friends, was estranged from some family, and lost perhaps the love of my life due to the fear of the narrow-mindedness I had to endure; but if that which doesn't kill you makes you stronger I should be nearly invincible.