The topic of sexuality is a difficult thing in our communities growing up in a small town of only three thousand people. Compounding the issue playing football and being gay was even more complicated. My good friend had to go through both during our time growing up in this unique communities. He had a lot of things to tell me about how he was treated and when he finally came out to all his friends and family. I decided to call him and interview him again.
I grew up with Shane Witt and became really good friends with him. We played high school football together, he was the fullback that I always blocked for during our Friday night games. He showered with the team and dressed with us in the locker room. His locker …show more content…
I learned that sexual preference is a choice that is extremely hard to make growing up in unaccepting communities. Living in these communities doesn’t allow someone to be themselves. I learned that just because you play football doesn’t mean you have to date girls. I also learned that people have a fear of coming out because they don’t want to lose the people they care about the most just because they want to have sex with the same gender. In our home town it’s still not okay to be gay in our home town and certain communities do not except this way of life. I learned that just because your friends with a gay person doesn’t mean you’re …show more content…
After calling Shane and catching up I reviewed my point of view on sexuality. I like people for who they are and because of my relationship with Shane has helped in many ways. I don’t judge people because they are different than me. I enjoy their uniqueness and the ideas they bring to the table. The one point of view that I have taken away from this is that two guys can be friends. Just because one is gay doesn’t mean the other one is gay too. Shane and I are a good example of this.
Did your research change how you look at sexual orientation or how you will approach the subject?
As I hung up with Shane I decided to reflect on my own sexual orientation and how I approach it in the past and now. In the past I was very confused and scared to talk to gay people. I used the word gay when talking about something I didn’t like, “That is so gay”. Now I teach my students that is unacceptable in my classroom. I explain to them that by using the word in a derogatory way only makes them sound ignorant and uneducated. I am so glad that at a young age I was given the gift of knowing someone so close to me and having them come out. I learned how to be confident and proud to be who I am and I hope to teach students to be themselves no matter how different they are then the others in the class. People who are themselves create a more positive atmosphere and enjoy