Coming Out Stories Gallery - Darren

I was about 10 years old when I realized that I was not like other boys. I had crushes on several boy in my class but it was around 5th grade when I had my first sexual experience with another boy and that went on until we were Freshmen in high school. I grew up in a small town in South East Kansas and the only social life was church. That is where I learned to feel ashamed of who God made me to be. Every day of my early school life, until I got to College, was torment, fellow students, and teacher would call me names and I was hit in the testicles different times, presumably to make then work and me more macho. Although, my story starts out bad it gets better, even miracles if I do say so. To make a long story shorter I'll skip some. I got married, divorced and through the example of a school mates struggle to live with AIDs and the help of a wonderful female friend, came out to my parents who were not crazy about it but loving.

I've met my soul mate and have been with him 10yrs. I've helped form a loving, open and affirming church in the community where I now live so others won't have the struggles that I went through. God has given back 10 fold what Satan had stolen! Know the truth and it will set you free.

That truth for me is that God loves me and accepts me just the way God made me.