By Erin Peters

Acceptance and support: there’s a lot said about those two concepts. So often people are heard bragging about their ability to perform them. Sure, in one’s own circle, how can a person get away without them? It’s when someone gets challenged outside the circle, by being confronted with new ideas and differences, that others see who can really handle it.

It’s common knowledge that children and small towns are brutally honest in their opinions and actions as to what they think of others. Sometimes, they reflect truth; other times, they reflect their lacking ability to see it. In this somewhat closeted area, it often seems as though there are only children and small towns around. Hopefully, that’s not true because things are changing and will continue to change, with or without their permission.

I was always one of those people to pick on in school. Why? Well, most of the time it seemed like Why not? The thing is that for whatever reason, I was weak. I was weak for being different all alone, and I was a target for letting people know I knew that.

At times, those experiences have given me a bitter attitude; but inside myself, I feel as though I have forgiven them. I have been known to tease or make fun of people myself, so I realize that not everyone who has ever called me a name or snubbed me was doing it to ruin my life. And I know that people are capable of growing up, feeling bad, and feeling sorry. If I have the ability to do that and want others to see it in me, I have to see that in others.

I was different then, I’m different now. Now, though, I can accept myself for what was once my problem is not that bad anymore to what seems like everyone else. I think that I can see the other sides of things because of this. I’m very excited to see the formation of the GSA. Obviously, members of this group have also dealt with being there when other people didn’t want them. It goes without saying that being different, unintentionally, and planning on staying that way is difficult.

Starting any club is not easy, much less a club with the word gay in the title, but it is going to be hard for everyone else who will have to step back and let it happen, despite whatever reasons they have for not wanting it. There’s a really good quote from Men in Black, where Tommy Lee Jones is talking to Will Smith about people.