I DON'T SWITCH PRONOUNS: If You Can't Accept the SHE, Then You Don't Deserve To Hear My Story! (Katelin)

Sophomore year of college, I first came out. The first person I told was my friend from home, the one I thought would take it best and be able to help me. She said "I knew it," and that was pretty much it. After that, it was a snowball effect. I felt so liberated. People actually liked me still. I lost no real friends from it, and I could be myself, which is HUGE. One of the things I’m proud of myself for is the ability to be myself and truthfully not care what anyone thinks, especially on Gettysburg campus... How you gonna hate on me when you rockin’ mini-skirts with Ugg boots?

I've told my mother I'm gay… She told me I wasn't. I never told my father or brother. They must know to some degree, but I honestly don't feel like they deserve to know. Both are conservative assholes sometimes. To keep my sanity, I've just decided they don’t need to know.

Oddly enough though, my mom and I used to talk about gay rights all the time when she thought I was just a “friend-o-gays.” Now, she shuts the topic down as soon as she can. What can i say? My mother loves Bill O'Reilly.

I don't introduce myself as “Katelin the LESBIAN,” but everyone figures it out. I'm butch, dyke, AG, whatever you want to call me, so it’s kinda hard to miss.

As proud as I am of who I've become... there's just some places where you can't be gay. This summer, I had an internship out in NYC. I had to dress up like a girl, carry a purse... it completely wasn't me. I felt part of my soul being drained every morning when I would put these “femme” clothes on. I would run home and put basketball shorts on and my NO BITCH ASS NESS shirt with some Jordans and run outside to The Village to go be gay and prance around.

Anyone my age, my peers, can know I'm gay. When my safety or my family's safety are in jeopardy, I will remain quiet though.

Haha, in class, I don't advertise myself as the gay chick, except my creative writing class I took. I wrote about lesbians because I know about lesbians. I wasn't ashamed. I would never pretend I’m not gay, as I said, it’s obvious for the most part that I am. I never ever have changed pronouns. I would rather not talk about what I was going to say if I need to disrespect my girlfriend by calling her a him. If you can't accept the SHE, then you don't deserve to hear my story!