I don't hide in the closet any more

Today, I received a message from a Facebook friend that questioned the gay pride flag on my profile picture. The remarks he made were very derogatory and damning. He explained he didn't support gay rights. He said to fuck my rights, an exact quote. I usually don't respond to these types of messages but he had me so wired that I felt like I needed to do something. So here is my response to his remarks.

Robert, I really don't owe you any explanation for the rainbow flag, period. It is none of your concern as why I have it on my profile page. What I do in my bedroom and with whom is no ones business including yours. I have the flag to support the gay community because I am gay as well. I served when we weren't allowed in the military and if you have issues with my sexuality, then that is your problem not mine. I lived my entire life worrying about what others felt or thought about my sexuality and I was miserable. I refuse to be put back in the closet. I am sorry you don't support my sexuality. But if you want to know the why behind it then let me know and order my book I wrote about my life called Silent Cries, A Memoir Brent Seheult is my pen name. It is on Amazon.com paperback is $25 or kindle is $4.99. You should get to know people before you cast judgements.

Shortly after this response he un-friended me on Facebook, but it wasn't that big of a loss. When people are that narrow minded and have that much hate for another group it is they that should be pitied. After the man un-friended me on Facebook, I reported him to Facebook, something I don't like to do. If this had happened when I was a child, I would have gone home boo-hoo-ing and crying. After my parents realized I was gay and wasn't going to change my wicked ways as they called it. They told me I was going to conversion therapy. Luckily for me my uncle stepped in and stopped that from happening.

In a time in which gay rights have been passed and he is in effect committing a hate crime is pretty serious business. Do I intend to press charges, no because I am not that petty. In my piece more work lays ahead I brought up that homophobia still exists. I brought up that we had more work to do.t I look at the case of the boy in Utah that was bullied by his teacher of all people. He was bullied because he said he was thankful for his two dads. Both men were really upset and the boy was worried that this incident was going to affect his adoption.

When is it acceptable to berate a child because of who was adopting him? I don't care who adopts this boy as long as he is loved, cared for and provided for and not abused. Why would a teacher feel the need to interject their personal opinions or views into their class room? Families don't have to match. The teacher was terminated for what she had done to the boy. But has the damage been done? Like the young lad said, she should have chosen her words better. The fathers went on social media to bring awareness to what happened to their son.

Gays have been fighting for their rights since the Stonewall uprising in New York in 1969. We have a long way to go before there is full acceptance of our community. I don't agree with gays targeting businesses that won't serve them and then suing (mainly Christian). I think that's wrong.

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