Community Corner
Gay Rights Activist Deplores Bigotry on National Coming Out Day: Letter to the Editor
Cuyahoga Falls native Shane May shares his stuggles of growing up as a homosexual, rails against "homophobic" behavior and offers a message of hope during National Coming Out Day.
In case anybody missed the memo... I am gay. Sorry for the shocker; I know this may be devastating news to most of you, but know that I am okay with it and have been okay with it for many years.
I would personally like to thank every single one of you from Price Elementary, Sill Middle School and Cuyahoga Falls High School who called me names and made fun of me while growing up. Your name calling and bullying gave me the strength and courage to come to terms with who I am today and only made me stronger.
While you live in your hate-filled worlds of homophobic bigotry, know that I am making a difference in this community and doing something with my life that I am passionate about. Never again will you be able to tear me down like you did in my adolescent years. I am proud of who I am and would not change it for anything in the world.
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To the kids currently in school who are struggling with their own sexual identity, please know that it does get better. There is a giant world out there waiting for you to explore and those mean kids who make you cry will be the same ones stuck in their small town accomplishing nothing with their lives.
You are beautiful the way you are and do not let anyone try to tell you different. So next time someone says something to you which hurts your feelings or makes fun of you for who you are just smile. Smile and remember that you are perfect exactly the way you are. Never change.
Happy National Coming Out Day!
Have a great day,
Shane May