From the March 22 issue of Q-Notes, the leading LGBT news source of the Carolinas:
Rural gay youth struggle for acceptance
Close friendships provide strength against adversity
by Matt Comer . Q-Notes staff
When pondering North Carolina’s beautiful western mountains, most people will conjure up images of grand rolling hills, breathtaking views and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Almost no one will think of these vistas as places to encounter a rowdy crowd of openly gay teens. But, in the first decade of the 21st century, there they are.
Brandon, Michael, Kirk, Damien and Brian range in age from 15 to 21. Together, they are not social outcasts, but best friends, free from the daily struggles imposed upon them by their rural surroundings. With the help of one another, along with their families and other friends, they have created a safe space for support, growth and love.
Over the past two decades, there has been immense growth in the acceptance of gays and lesbians in metropolitan America. Although this change has taken longer to seep into rural areas, there are certainly small rays of hope.
Brandon, who recently came out to his family, says that even though it took his mother and father some time to deal with the issue, they continue to learn and grow.
“I had the chance to come out,” he says. “It was going to be a lot easier for me to move out after that, but my dad eventually accepted it and I moved back in. My mom still deals with it.”
For some of the boys, living with adopted or foster parents has been a blessing. They feel their birth families might not have been as accepting as their second families.
March 24th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Matt,
I’m glad you did this article. For almost three (3) years, the Catawba Valley had a youth support group (Catawba Valley Time Out Youth, aka CVTOY). It was affiliated with the Charlotte-based organization but received no financial or other support. The group was lead by a local activist, who eventually “burned out” and got out of the group.
I have a number of students & young people who have voiced their interest in seeing something similar to CVTOY be re-launched. I’ve even considered taking on the responsiblities myself. But just like the rural stigma that the students in this story face, the same stigma is faced when finding group leaders who are willing to be dedicated and openly associated with a “gay group.”
I’d like to encourage anyone in the Hickory area who is interested in joining with me in starting an LGBT youth support group in Hickory to contact me. Anyone with points or tips are also encouraged to contact me – brgnrh@gmail.com or through my website – http://www.brandongreeson.com
April 7th, 2008 at 2:02 am
Rural Gay Youth Struggle For Acceptance
The following article was published in the March 22, 2008 edition of Q-Notes. The journalist – my friend – Matt Comer does an excellent job capturing the stories of four gay youth in our area.
Rural gay youth struggle for acceptance
Close friendships…