Having registered as a member on a forum for gay teens, I'm actually really appalled by the reality of the situation in the states. I've been convinced that British teens have it tough, but the reality that homosexual kids have to face in the US is disgusting. I've read so many testaments from kids no older than 14 or 15 who just can't handle the stress of it all. Many of them live in religious households with devout parents. Many of their families are incredibly homophobic. They can't 'come out' because of fear of reprisals from their own mums and dads. It just shouldn't be happening. To perplex things even further many of these kids have atheistic sympathies, so to speak. I've talked to a few of them and the situation seems pretty terrible. They come onto the forums asking for advice from other teenagers, and the results are always the same. No one can give a suitable solution to their problems which doesn't include "stay at school, work hard and hope to find a college far from your family and possibly your state". It should be a 21st century shame that young homosexual teens should have to wait so long and persevere so much to escape the prejudices of their own community and parents.
These kids are depressed and feel that they have no hope for their future. They've been taught to feel guilty for existing, and they do. I don't think there's anything so sad as a 15 year old boy talking about wanting to end it all and commit suicide. They can't even reach out for the support they need in their area because of the piousness of councillors and people who should know better. There's no trust and no opportunity for them to escape.
I've noticed that many British posters on the forum can't relate to their American counterparts' situation. Their inappropriate advice is a monument to how much our country has progressed over the years, but a total indictment of how America hasn't
They say "just tell everyone you're gay, I'm sure they'd accept it" but they just don't understand the jeopardy that it could put these boys in
I feel a little disappointed in myself that I've had to tell them to keep their sexuality to themselves and tell no one. Is this modern America? Where the fuck are the basic human rights that these kids are entitled to?
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