My conversations with Judith here , who was only breaking out of the shell of silence and stigmatization got me thinking . My attempts to get Judith again to talk over the topic and hear her perspective were futile. I needed to hear from someone; curiosity was killing me, just as it is doing to you. So I asked one guy who is in the LGBTI category to share his story on how it started, how it has been up to date.
This guy, Brian to be specific is a man in his mid twenties, a student and a hustler. I have known him for quite a while now and he has kept his private life on low profile. He has had his share of drama in life but has continued being real to self. At first I could not even suspect that he was gay but with time I have come to learn alot about him. Being the scribe that I am , my work is to write what i hear not what i think so here is the story of Brian "I was born and raised in a conservative family, my parents were both leaders in the local church and going to church every Sunday was a norm for my sisters and I. Throughout childhood, I could tell 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 a had made it part of their vocabulary and readily let me know that I was.
I never paid any attention to their claims, it was not until
Hugh school when my friends started getting attracted to the opposite sex and
was I stuck with the realization that Iwasn’t at all interested in girls.
Having brought up in a traditional setting, I knew I had to be 'normal' I tried
going out with girls like my other friends but it just could not work.
After my first year in school, I discovered that there
existed other people like I, I came to appreciate who I was. I decided to come
out to my close friends, this would mark the beginning of my woes in school,I
came face to face with discrimination based on who I was. I targeted by people
who I confided in. Life stopped being normal for me.
Word got to the school administration and my parents were
summoned to explain why their son is a homosexual, I was suspended for two
weeks to 'be normal'. My family would make homophobic comments about me, my
father would ridicule my walking style, I was told that my voice was not man
enough, my height was put on the radar and u was prohibited from having male
friends. I became some sort of a bad omen to my family. My uncles banned me
from hanging out with my cousins for the fear of infecting them with the
homosexual devil
My life back in school was difficult during the first week
after the suspension, my items were
stolen a complain to the administration would be met with arrogance and the
misfortune termed as my own making
Life took a drastic turn, I was raised as if I was my own
sister, I had to make plans that a guy my age would not imagine making in a
normal setting. I had to plan on how I would survive if I was disowned, life
became meaningless, my father enrolled me for counselling sessions at the local
church, society viewed me as a psychological case. I was lectured on how the
devil was using me to destroy my family's lineage. To me I believe that We are
born in a society full of contradictions, we are brought up accepting murderers
but killing and bashing people whose only crime is to love differently.
I know you have alot to say about this but the guy spoke his heart. In part 3 we shall seek to have a religious perspective on it and we shall be done on this series.
Enjoy you reading
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