The Bo Show

WHAT IS THE HARDEST THING ABOUT BEING GAY?

(Audio & Comment Below)

You sometimes forget how hard it is to be gay. What I mean is, you get so used to living your everyday life, you forget about some of those moments that broke your heart when you were first coming out (at least for me anyway).

I came out of the closet about seven years ago. Trust me, it was a struggle. I remember I would go for one to two hour runs, and all I would think about is, “How am I going to tell my parents, friends… everyone in my life? How can I do this? I will never know what it is like to hold another man in my arms, because I can’t even say I’m gay to myself.” Lets fast forward seven years later… doesn’t seem so hard now. I often hold men in my arms, and vice versa.

But, when you really sit back and think about it, really take it in, I realize how strong we must be, to be us. I chatted with so many lesbians and gay men during my hometown’s gay pride event in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. We all strolled down memory lane and answered the question, “What was the hardest thing you had to overcome or conquer because you are gay?”

Just reading some of their answers (below), my heart broke a bit again (just like it did seven years ago). We have a long way to go before other boys and girls don’t have to feel the way we did when we were coming out of our closets, but each day we get closer to equal rights and healed hearts. One day, a heart won’t have to break because of the word “gay.” Have a listen to what some of us had to say. - BO

Excerpts from street interviews:

“I was blamed for his initial illness.”
“My son is not a faggot.”
“She’s 25, she should be married. Why are you still hanging out with Lindsey”
“Discrimination is probably the number one issue.”
“I have a whole new set of friends now… most of the people turned away from me.”