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Hello, I'm Mark, I'm 24, from New Mexico, and yes I am gay
Have I always been gay? Yes, but have I always felt right? No
I used to think that everyone was like me, that everyone was interested in the same sex
But through time I saw that it wasn't true, that I was different, not like everyone else.
that's when I felt like I had a secret to keep, felt trapped inside and was not sure who I was
I lost my hearing and moved to a deaf school. There, in middle school and early high school years
I dated many different girls, it was fun, but I only dated them to cover up
to hide myself, to be someone else, I never felt happy
never felt complete, I was not true to myself but I knew I couldn't share it
I had no one to talk to, no one to tell the truth to.
But my junior year in high school came and I met someone
and that experience gave me strength to be true to myself because I was so happy
everything felt so right, I felt complete, I felt whole
I decided from there, that I wanted to feel that way forever
I went ahead and came out and told my friends and the people in my community
and fortunately everyone was very positive and very supportive
I felt great, great enough to go ahead and tell my mom
unfortunately she was not as happy, but through time she accepted and approved me
One year later she asked, "are you sure you are gay?"
I told her, "yes, I am very sure" and to this day, it got better
and she was always supportive and always there
I went ahead and told my brothers, both of them know and they are both ok with it.
Unfortunately I haven't found the strength to tell my dad or my grandparents
but I think through recent experiences and through making this video
I think it's time that I go ahead and tell them
because I know it will only get better.
So for those, all of you who go through challenges
feel confused, feel lost, feel alone
dont worry, i was there, I was picked on, people called me names and put me down
I know what it's like to feel hopeless and feel like there is nothing in the future
but I am telling you, I know, through experience
that the future is a great place, and you have to realize that
you have to want to be there, to see it, because it gets better
and it will get better for you.
if you stand strong, and be who you are
and know even though people might not support you now, people might put you down now
but the day gets brighter, the future is there, and it gets better.
only if you believe, and you get through today and get through tomorrow
Know that it gets better, it will.