Saying gay could save lives.

The Don’t Say Gay Bill that is set to be voted upon on Thursday is in one word… dangerous. I grew up in Plant City Florida. I was born and raised here. I cut my teeth on strawberries from my family’s small farm. I learned to drive on a tractor. I was raised by god fearing, conservative Christian, red blooded southern republicans. My dad would even register as a democrat just so that he could mess around with their primary results. But in 1997 way before it was “ok to be gay” or “it gets better” or even the Trevor project. I was forcefully outed at school. In a small town where everyone knows everyone or you’re related to each other. My life was almost over. My parents immediately kicked me out. Then they called every family member and forbid them from taking me in. I lived in my car the last four months of high school. I was dropped from the national honor society and lost a full ride scholarship to college. My life was almost over and now my future was gone. According to the Trevor project. Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual kids between the ages of 11-25 are 5 times more likely to attempt suicide that heterosexual kids. Hell we can’t even accurately guess on the T or Q kids since we don’t let them exist yet. But the LG&B kids who grow up in a household like mine are 8 times more likely to attempt suicide than their LGB peers who are accepted at coming out. So mathematically I was 42 times more likely to die by my own hands than any of the straight kids I knew. I am only alive today because a classroom was my safe place. A teacher saved my life. His name is Edward Mason he taught at Durant High School and he remains my hero to this day. He gave me hope when I felt nothing but shame and fear and disappointment. Please do not put more kids into a situation like mine. It’s been 25 years since I was outed. 25 years!!! It’s time to move forward and past these old fashioned and outdated ways of thinking. Love is love is love is love is love.