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Soldier of Change: From the closet to the forefront of the gay rights movement
I really hated my life. I hated living like I was in prison. It was hurting my relationship. And it was all so fucking stupid. Was this a “special privilege”? Was this about sex? I was not asking to have sex in the military. If given the chance of a rebuttal after Mr. Santorum answered my question with his “sex has no place in the military” and “gay people want special privileges” rhetoric, I would have told him that story.
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A dad’s surprising response to his gay son’s heart wrenching ‘coming out’
My name is James Alexander. I’m 20 years old and reside in a conservative area of Texas where I was born and raised. Throughout my childhood I could tell that I was different. I was quiet, unsure of myself, socially anxious at most times. Before I even connected the word “gay” with two men liking each other, the other kids already had made it part of their vocabulary and readily let me know that I was.
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I may not always understand my gay son, but I always accept him
I picked up my 20-something son, David, at the Metro a few weeks ago. After he got into the car, he put out his hands towards me, and asked: “Do you like this color? Kind of a deep purple. I get a lot of compliments on it.” Yes, David wears nail polish — bright, glossy, frequently-changing-colors nail polish. And it doesn’t bother me. In fact, I like the deep purple shade…
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A gay dad’s open letter to the homophobic parents who threw away their gay son
Another young person has been thrown out of his home for coming out as gay. I have written about this on a number of occasions covering such events in the United States, Nigeria and Uganda. This time the event was recorded. Trying to imagine the evil some people can impart on their children is no longer necessary. Now we can hear them in their own self righteous voices…
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I’m an otherwise straight man (who fell in love with his best friend)
I’ve always prided myself on being open. I’ll try any new therapy or modality or New Age idea—and, believe me, I’ve tried them all. I’ve done the self-work. I’ve “found myself.” I’ve even practiced my affirmations. I knew who I was, without a doubt. That’s why I found myself in unfamiliar territory when I—the open guy, the “figured out” guy, the unquestionably straight guy—realized that I was in love …
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Sailor is first member of Chile’s armed forces to come out as gay
SANTIAGO, Chile — A sailor with Chile’s navy on Wednesday announced he is gay, an unprecedented public declaration in this socially conservative South American nation. Chile has traditionally been a tough place for homosexuals, although the country decriminalized gay sex in 1999 and attitudes toward gays are evolving. The killing of a gay man in Chile 2012 set off a national debate…
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Miss Spain becomes first openly lesbian national beauty queen
Miss Spain has revealed she is in a lesbian relationship, becoming the first openly gay national beauty queen. Patricia Yurena, 24, revealed in an Instagram photo that she is in a relationship with singer Vanesa Cortes. The image was captioned “Romeo and Juliet.”
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Sun Devils’ Chip Sarafin: First active Div. I football player to come out as gay
TEMPE, Ariz. — Arizona State senior offensive lineman Edward “Chip” Sarafin has told a local magazine he is gay, making him the first active Division I football player to come out. Sarafin told Phoenix-based Compete, a magazine for gay sports, that he revealed his sexual orientation to his teammates nonchalantly last spring.
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Gay coach who came out in blog post will keep job at S.D. Catholic high school
DELL RAPIDS, S.D. — A volleyball coach at St. Mary High School in Dell Rapids who has publicly announced he’s gay says he’s being allowed to keep his job. Nate Alfson announced he was gay last week on the website Outsports.com, and later said he was concerned about his future with the private Catholic school. He is believed to be the first openly gay…
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How being gay affected Sam Champion’s relationship with his father
When weatherman Sam Champion announced in 2012 that he was marrying his longtime partner, Rubem Robierb, it was the first time he had discussed his sexuality publicly. Off-camera, however, Sam never hid being gay from his friends or family—even from his late father, a military man whose initial reaction was anything but supportive. “I cannot support this lazy lifestyle choice…”