Gay student comes out to teacher in writing assignment

Brave young man deserves a hug and a high five. Coming out as LGBT is rarely easy, but this student takes the first step in confiding in his teacher.

By Charyn Pfeuffer - MSN Living Editor Jan 28, 2013 7:37PM

Sit down and grab some Kleenex. This story will melt your heart and quite possibly make you cry.

I graduated high school in 1991 and cannot recall a single classmate that had come out at that time. Over the past few decades, gays and lesbians have seen greater public acceptance. But, telling someone that you are gay can be an experience fraught with fears of rejection and discrimination.

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It’s difficult to fathom the burden a teen faces when hiding their true identity from their peers. As if high school wasn’t hard enough under normal circumstances.

Check out one brave young man’s first step in coming out to his teacher through a writing assignment.

Dear, Mrs. XXXXX:

I wish to write you about the biggest thing I carry. I’ve been carrying this since middle school a it’s a been a huge weight on me since I discovered it. The knowledge of my sexuality has been with me for about 6 years now, and it was a burden for a great deal of time. It wasn’t until recently that I started to slowly lift this off my shoulders. I’ve carried this for so long because of fear. I’m afraid of certain people finding this weight. I’m afraid of them finding the weight and thinking differently about me. Thinking negatively of me. Hating me. That’s why I carry it. I just don’t want to be hated. Or even worse, kicked out of people’s lives. I want to stay the same, but I want to get rid of this weight. It’s weighing me down and keeping me from greater things, but again that fear comes into play and makes me think differently. The fear forces me to burden myself by carrying it even more. Thankfully I’ve been able to set down minute portions of it, by sharing the knowledge that I’m not “normal” per society. I’ve received mixed emotions. Some couldn’t care less about the knowledge. Some liked me even more for it. And ultimately, some detest me for it. But I care not for those who detest the knowledge. They can go off into their sad little world of bigoted hate. I couldn’t care less for them. I’ve been able to shave off a great deal of what I carry, but sadly a bit remains. The bit that is reserved for my family. They will be the hardest one to share the knowledge with, for I don’t know how they will accept it. I have no idea if they will think nothing of it, or they will reject the love I offer them and disown me as their son, or brother, or nephew. That, like much of this cold, dark world, is unclear to me. And sadly, there is only one true way to know how this will turn out. They day I can finally remove this weight from me, liberate my world, is the first great victory in my life. That is the day I just can’t wait to see.

Best Regards,

XXXXXX

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Read his teacher’s wonderful response:

"I am honored to be a witness to this weight being lifted off. You are an amazing, dynamic, compassionate, "with-it" young man who will give the world a gift just by you being you offering your love & spirit. If people choose not to be comfortable with your honesty — their loss my friend — their loss."

Please leave a comment below if you applaud this student’s bravery.

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Photo: daftzak via Reddit

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