"I am a queer man of color in my mid-20s. I grew up in a mostly white, conservative, rural town. It was hellish growing up there, dealing with constant microaggressions, racism, and homophobia. Even though I was not out of the closet at the time, I was constantly clocked as being gay and ridiculed as a result. Despite this, I had some incredibly close friends who were a godsend during that time."
"One dad in particular would say racist and homophobic things to me as a teenager, and even the thought of him makes my blood boil. Another friend's mom made it clear about what she thought of the LGBTQ+ community, and I wish I had never known. These friends often want me to spend time with them and their families, and while I love my friends, I want nothing to do with their families!"
A queer man of color in his mid-20s grew up in a mostly white rural town and endured microaggressions, racism, and homophobia. He was often clocked as gay and ridiculed, though some childhood friends offered crucial support. He moved to a progressive city and, after therapy, recognized how damaging his upbringing was. He still sees those friends when they visit, but they often want him to spend time with their families. Several of those family members were his tormentors and expressed racist or anti-LGBTQ+ views. He fears telling friends the truth because their closeness could end friendships, though he has severed ties with bigoted relatives before to protect his wellbeing.
Read at Slate Magazine
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