Dear Jasmine,
I am gay and my parents do not know about it. That is not my main issue though. I have a bigger problem then that which is that while my parents do not know that I am gay, I am pretty open about it at my school. The problem is that the kids are constantly taunting me about it. I am just being myself, is that a crime? It is really depressing for me. Please tell me what I should do!
Ali H,
Sugar Land, TX
Dear Ali,
It is tough enough for you having to keep this secret from your parents. Don’t you think if you are so open at school, that your parents will eventually find out from someone else? It is probably better for them to hear it from you rather then from someone else. I assume you don’t think your parents will approve of this and so that is why you have not told them, however the way I see it, if your parents have any chance of supporting you then you may be able to have them help you out with the situation you have at school.
If you are pretty open about it at school, maybe you are too open about it. I am not sure how everyone knows about it, perhaps through word of mouth, but if you have been displaying it for them to see, they may not know how to react to it and in turn they act out towards you. It is most likely they do not know what to think of it and so they take that confusion and channel towards you. I would suggest you talk to your counselor at school if this is really getting to you because if the kids continue to harass you, you can report harassment.
There is no crime in being yourself and sometimes you have to remember that not everyone is open-minded and often times people have trouble expressing themselves and that may result in negativity. Don’t let them get to you, you know who you are and that is what is the important thing. It is not important what these kids think of you and if they are getting out of hand, you should report them to your principal or counselor. Don’t let them get you down.
Always here,
Jasmine
