‘Coming out’ - David’s Story

“I’m not sure exactly when i realised i was gay. It’s not as if a light-bulb flashes and ping you’re an official homosexual, here’s your certificate. Everybody’s ‘coming out’ experiences are different.

My name is David, I am now 15 and I live in Withington. Being gay has been one of the most difficult experiences of my life so far. It was hard to come to terms with, something I have had to do completely by myself. It has been a very lonely process; at times I’ve felt like everyone is against me.

I’ve felt isolated, I sometimes don’t know how to deal with things. I tried to talk to my teacher about the bullying but she just didn’t want to know. She said I should talk to my parents about it but they are both very religious, there was no way I could talk to them about it. It is an agonising feeling so alone, it’s no surprise I sometimes hurt myself.

Once at school this lad was bullying me, the usual stuff; faggot, queer, uphill-gardener, I was so stressed that the teacher didn’t do anything that I punched him. I ended up getting into trouble for that. I can’t wait until next year when I’ll be out of this place. I just can’t talk to anyone.

I feel insecure and unprotected. I think if it was just talked about that would make it easier. A lot of the homophobia is just ignorance, by both the teachers and the pupils. I just wish I could be ‘out’ and respected for who I am. Schools need to act to make sure that gay students get the respect they need to feel safe and secure.”

Text reproduced by kind permission of LGYM (Lesbian and Gay Youth Manchester) Lesbian and Gay Youth Manchester

email: info@lgym.org.uk

answerphone: 0161 273 7838

website: www.lgym.org.uk