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"Proud to Be Me"
Stephanie McCort
Green High School, Class of 2004
Akron University, Class of 2008
I realized I was a lesbian on my thirteenth birthday. It wasn’t that it hit me all
of a sudden; it was just then that I realized it. I didn’t tell anyone though. I
was scared, as anyone would be. I just kept it hidden. When I was 17, in the
summer, I found out that in a city near me, they had a building call The Pride
Center, witch a youth group. The first meeting I went to, there was one other guy
there, and 2 facilitators. Coming from a small town like I do, we had nothing, and
I had only knowingly met 4 gay people in my life. And suddenly, this group became
my mission.
Myself, along with my new friend Ryan started spreading the word, and I put up a
website and just got anyone we could, planned events. Working with this group was
the best thing I ever did in my life. Reaching out and realizing there were other
youth like me, other youth going through what I was going through, and helping each
other was more rewarding then words can explain.
Our group, Glamour Pride, has a mission of spreading a message that hate is wrong,
in every form. That there is value in every single person, and that everyone being
different is what makes out world wonderful. Us simply going out in public and
saying “We’re here, and yes, we’re gay, is there a problem?” makes a wonderful
statement that homosexuals are everywhere, and you might not even know it. It could
be your neighbor, your teacher, or even your sister or brother. But our message of
love has already made such an impact on people.
The world needs education about homosexuality and seeing that we’re happy with who we are, and that’s all that should matter. And our group, many members who are
involved in gay straight alliances at the school, are demonstrating our vision of a
loving world where all people are accepted. Our group was not created so much as a
group for gay and lesbian teenagers, but as a group to promote tolerance and love
and compassion. With homosexuality in the mainstream now, people are finally
realizing that it is acceptable, that is really is love and that we are people, too.
By simply being myself, I’m sending a message. By holding my girlfriend’s hand in
the mall, we are sending a message, and by passing out papers and speaking to
others, we are sending a message, and that is most important. In a world with so
much hate, just having the ability to change once person could save a life.
Changing one person could stop them from yelling a slur or killing someone or even
something as minor as shooting a disaproving look at one of us.
I am making a difference every day by wearing by pride on my sleeve and showing that I’m who I am and there is nothing wrong with it.
About Stephanie
Stephanie is an active member in several activities in her school and community, including a co-preseident of Tech Club, stage manager of Musical Theatre, a 3-year member of Play Production and Drama Club, as well as an active member in National Honor Society, Blood Donation Drive and Spanish Club, and serving as the youth leader in her community group, Glamour Pride. She plans on going to Akron U and majoring in either Theatre Arts or Theatre Education.
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