“I grew up in L.A. and I’m 37. I was and still am very close with my mother. I live in San Francisco and she’s close by. I”m still not out to her.”

“There was no awareness when I was growing up about the diversity of sexuality. You were male or female, straight or in sin. The narrow view of sexuality was a challenge I could not foresee. Even at 50, I need to work on integrating my life and my sexuality in a holistic manner.”

"I did not know the word gay or lesbian....all I know is that from the time I was about 10, I felt drawn to girls. I was very popular with boys in grade school, but the attraction and draw to girls was different. Throughout high school and college, I felt drawn to girls, dated boys , but was emotionally connected to girls. I never shared my feelings with anyone. Inside I had the feeling that this was not the norm. So I continued dating boys and eventually married. Things have changed, I divorced my husband years ago and have been with my wife for 30 years."

“While growing up in a small town in the mid-west in the 1970’s, I was aware of my radical difference, but did not have a way to name it or characterize it. As a kid, the knowledge of this difference led me to solitary pursuits and social awkwardness, which in turn led to being bullied. In seventh grade when an older teen explained to me what a faggot was, using sexually explicit language that I barely understood, I didn’t connect to the term nor the description, but I knew this was the difference that I couldn’t name. At the time I didn’t have overt sexual desire (I was a late bloomer) but I knew then that this most despised of labels was not unfitting, though I verbally denied it each time it was lobbed at me."

"As an Italian girl we were not allowed to get our own apartments. We were supposed to get married to leave the house. So I didn't leave my home until I was twenty eight. I knew I was different from my other girl friends in school and on my block. First I was a tomboy feeling more comfortable playing boys games rather than jump rope and pottsy. I remember liking my gym teachers too much. When I started dating boys I never felt comfortable. I lived a double life for years dating boys and meeting girlfriends on other days. I was engaged twice not for love but to please my family. I taught physical education in Catholic schools and had to lie to other teachers about who I was dating. I could never come out as I would be fired. I drank a lot to escape my feelings and what I was doing. It was not accepted to be gay and it was a sin in eyes of Catholics"

“I wasn’t bullied, but when I was very young, I was a bully. Looking back I think I was overcompensating to make sure no one suspected I was effeminate, vulnerable, or gay. My family is pretty progressive for Georgia but I still struggle with their disinterest in the men I date.”

“Growing up in the middle east I probably would have been killed if I came out. Being gay is a sin in my family and the religion I grew up with. It was scary to sneak out to underground gay clubs and bars. I escaped to the US and San Francisco with a man. I have addictions with sex and club drugs that today I”m getting help with.”