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Ricky: Growing up, all I wanted
was to fit in and be like everybody else and quote/unquote "normal."
And looking back I realized that I made myself really unhappy living this way
because I was living my life based on other people's standards.
And their opinions of me, and my fear of their opinions of me were more important than what I thought of myself.
Denise: I remember those times, walking down the street, and people just stopped and stared
and just tried to figure out if I'm a boy or girl. But to me, I just kept walking, and
I just brushed it off because in the end I know who I am, and you know who you are.
Carlos: Even bullies have been bullied, and that's the only reason why they're spreading
their torment and the fear onto other kids who they see as themselves a long time ago.
Just remember that after high school it does get better.
Michael: I remember growing up, having a hard time dealing with who I was.
You know, several times I thought about running away from home and
even thoughts of. . .suicide.
Up until college, I think I still felt that way and having trouble coping with it.
I know that I even made my parents cry at some times, but
I just want you to know that it does get better. I'm still standing here, and I'm proof of that.
Denise: There are many of us who are in the same situation who might have the same story, and
just when it seems that things are so rough and things will never get better,
it will absolutely get better.
Kenian: No one can change who you are other than yourself. And why should you change, especially when it comes to sexuality?
Schulyer: Someone out there wants to fall in love with you.
Someone out there wants to be your best friend.
So stick around and see what it's like when it gets better.
Paul: And we really need you here to help it continue to get better.
So stick around.
You're loved, and you're worth being loved.
And we're really glad that you're here.
Scott: I grew up in a very religious environment. and
the church was the most important thing to me when I was a kid and as a young adult.
For a lot of years, I heard the message over and over again
that God hates gay people, that AIDS was God's punishment to gays and
that all gays are going to die of AIDS.
When I was 17 years old, still really confused (I mean who isn't at 17?),
I remember the preacher of our church got up on a Sunday night and
pointed at me and said he didn't want any *** at his church.
And that family of the church was so important to me, and
it devastated me and it hurt for a lot of years.
But what I learned is that, in time, when I learned to love myself
then I found the people who really loved me.
Mary: Harvey Milk, who was our country's first openly gay politician once said,
"If I turned around every time someone called me a ***,
I'd be walking backwards, and I don't want to walk backwards."
We need you to keep moving forwards. Trust me, it gets so much better.
Jose: Y me decia a mi mismo, esto va a pasar, esto va a pasar, esto va a pasar,
y eventualmente pasó. Y te quiero decir que no te des por vencido
porque en tu caso también va a pasar
y vas a poder contar tu historia en un futuro.
Kirk: Your life is like a marathon, and
those daily instances that might seem tough are just sprints.
You just have to get those sprints because there's a lot more to see on that run.
And it gets a lot better.
Erika: And you need to be here for when it does,
you need to be here when you're 28, and you need to be here when you're 38 and beyond that.
Joe: There's so much more to experience. So much more to live for.
Chris: No matter how you feel today, or what others may be saying about you,
you are valuable.
You deserve love, and you will find love.
You can, and you will choose your own tribe
of friends, family and coworkers who will accept you and
who will love you, simply for being you.
Kristina: If you need to talk to someone, please call The Trevor Project at
1 - 866 - 488 - 7386
Someone will be there waiting to help you.
Rob: It doesn't just get better, it gets fabulous!