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Article about GLBT youth coming out in middle school that made me go 'awwwwwww' and actually gave me a lot of hope about the kind of progress we've made and are making as a culture. Also, when was the last time you read anything upbeat and positive about middle school? I mean really.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/27/magazine/27out-t.html?pagewanted=1&_r=4&hp
A favored quote, which especially as a lawyer is making me snicker gleefully: "Indeed, courts — citing the Equal Access Act, which requires public schools to provide equal access to extracurricular clubs — have consistently ruled against schools that try to block G.S.A.’s from starting. (The 1984 law was the brainchild of Christian groups fighting to allow students to form religious clubs in schools.)" There are probably at least a few of the annoying sorts of Christian who are very nonplussed about that, and at them I laugh, but I am in good enough of a mood to think that perhaps some of them are happy that societal progress works this way. (EDIT: I cry for the punctuation fail, though, especially since this is the N.Y. Times).
I can't say that I had any idea that I was gay in middle school. If the concept had been more culturally present then I might have figured it out, because in retrospect all of the signs were there. No, the conscious realization that I was attracted to girls hit me like a piano falling from a height at about 16-ish. My internal monologue went something like, "Oh no. I'm attracted to girls. Oh no, I'm attracted to this particular girl, I am so incredibly doomed." I then did my level best to ignore the whole issue until I was pushing thirty. Never underestimate the social cluelessness and ineptitude of young Jackel. Of course, I've grown out of all that now. shifty eyes. Sure, of course I have.
Now that I am actually comfortable with my gay, I really am much happier, though I certainly can't say it's made my life any easier.
On a completely unrelated note, I am back from Florida and had a great time. Disney, I have to give it to them, does one damn fine zoo. Friends in Florida, please forgive me for not attempting to be social; the whole experience was just so packed with stuff and overwhelming that I really didn't have time to arrange meetings with people, much as I'd have liked to. But I did enjoy the experience enough that I suspect I may even do it again. There will be pictures later. For now, I'm actually more relaxed and happy than I've been for awhile, so that's a good thing.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/27/magazine/27out-t.html?pagewanted=1&_r=4&hp
A favored quote, which especially as a lawyer is making me snicker gleefully: "Indeed, courts — citing the Equal Access Act, which requires public schools to provide equal access to extracurricular clubs — have consistently ruled against schools that try to block G.S.A.’s from starting. (The 1984 law was the brainchild of Christian groups fighting to allow students to form religious clubs in schools.)" There are probably at least a few of the annoying sorts of Christian who are very nonplussed about that, and at them I laugh, but I am in good enough of a mood to think that perhaps some of them are happy that societal progress works this way. (EDIT: I cry for the punctuation fail, though, especially since this is the N.Y. Times).
I can't say that I had any idea that I was gay in middle school. If the concept had been more culturally present then I might have figured it out, because in retrospect all of the signs were there. No, the conscious realization that I was attracted to girls hit me like a piano falling from a height at about 16-ish. My internal monologue went something like, "Oh no. I'm attracted to girls. Oh no, I'm attracted to this particular girl, I am so incredibly doomed." I then did my level best to ignore the whole issue until I was pushing thirty. Never underestimate the social cluelessness and ineptitude of young Jackel. Of course, I've grown out of all that now. shifty eyes. Sure, of course I have.
Now that I am actually comfortable with my gay, I really am much happier, though I certainly can't say it's made my life any easier.
On a completely unrelated note, I am back from Florida and had a great time. Disney, I have to give it to them, does one damn fine zoo. Friends in Florida, please forgive me for not attempting to be social; the whole experience was just so packed with stuff and overwhelming that I really didn't have time to arrange meetings with people, much as I'd have liked to. But I did enjoy the experience enough that I suspect I may even do it again. There will be pictures later. For now, I'm actually more relaxed and happy than I've been for awhile, so that's a good thing.
