Brendan
Hello! My name is Brendan. I am currently 16 and a junior in high school. When I'm not in school, I like to listen to music, read, and swim. I absolutely love to dance ballet and I go to the studio every day. I always feel much more relaxed and calm when I dance. Even if it is a stereotype, I don't care and I have to say that I have met plenty of straight male ballet dancers. Spending time with my friends and family is also very important to me and I try very hard to make sure that I don't get too busy.
Coming out, for me, was not as hard as it is for some people. I came out to my parents at the end of my freshman year and they took it incredibly well. I have two gay uncles, whom my parents adore, and so my parents understood that homosexuality is normal and not something to be afraid of. My friends, for the most part, were very supportive. One of them was incredibly conservative and she still has some reservations but she is working through them and we are still nice to one another.
When I came out to my school, which is less than accepting, my family and friends were great. They got together and threw me a coming out party when I got home. I think I will remember that for the rest of my life. As it turns out, the people at my school that do not like me because I am gay are not a problem. We do not associate with each other and that is fine. I think that what bother me about being out in my high school is that I am lonely. I am one of the only out gay kids at my school and there are only a few other gay people who are "informally out" to their friends. However, I am trying to make my school a place where people feel safer because it is even lonelier to be in the closet with no one to talk to.
Part of why Positive Images is important to me is because it gives me community. It reminds me that there is other gay youth in the world. I love to see everyone each week and I have made some wonderful friends. In P.I., I have the job of being a peer advocate. A peer advocate provides confidential, one-on-one counseling. I like listening to people and helping them find solutions to their problems. I think that, because of P.I., I am more open about my life and who I am.
I know that sometimes it can be really lonely to be a LGBTQ youth and it is good to have someone to talk to or someone who you can ask questions. Please feel free to contact me at
charmer7@sonic.net
at the PI Halloween dance
10/31/03
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