Things I Don't Tell My Mom - Taylor Williams

Homophobia terrifies me. The fact that people out there will be so hateful over someone else being comfortable in their own skin is horrible. Mom doesn’t believe I should be worried about my health care, but what if someone won’t treat me because of my gender identity or sexuality? What if they think of me as less of a person because of those things? What if my mom would see me as less than she expected of me? She talks about her gay friend like it’s gossip he goes to broadway shows with his husband. She talks about it like it’s something negative. My step-dad, being bisexual, is secretive about his sexuality. My step-sister is shamed for her promiscuity and sexuality, even within my family. I’m afraid; what if they knew about my life here? What if they knew that their “I’m not racist but…” statements made me extremely uncomfortable? What would they say if they knew I lived with a mixed race person? What if I actually came out? Would I be able to tell my grandparents? Most of these aren’t problems straight people have and this bothers me. Why should I be afraid to bring someone home to meet my family if I love them? What if that’s why I haven’t dated anyone but a white boy a little older than me? Fear is the worst weapon homophobes can have. It is unfair that people outside of their idea of normal have to be afraid to exist as themselves to even their own families.