Rainbow Filled Skies

Our Latest Submission!

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 05:00:43 -0400

Coming Out of the Closet… More Like Running Out!

Hello everyone, how are you all? I hope you’re well and enjoying yourself and this awesome blog!

My name’s Michael and I’m nineteen years old, from sunny suburbia ofQueensland, Australia. I’m also very happy to say that I’m proud to be gay!

I’m sure you’ve heard of the old adage “it’s better out than in”, right? I’ve always been taught since I was a wee boy that it’s always better to let go of something that needs to be let go, and not to hold anything back that shouldn’t be held back. Wether it’s a big burp or a bad mood, it’s always good to get it out of yours system, right?

Well I guess I’ve always grown up following this simple adage. It was probably around the age of eleven that I started to realise the feelings that I was beginning to develop towards other guys. I’d always been the boy that hung out with the girls, talking about clothes and hair and ‘lady things’.

It was after swimming class that it all rushed to me. I was in the boys toilets getting changed after class and we had to change out of our swimmers and into our school uniform to back home, and I remember quite vividly getting rather excited about seeing the other boys getting changed. And it was only until the class bully pushed me up against the wall and laughed at my erection calling me a poof for checking out the other boys.

Well I guess I repressed that day for the next few years. I had a girlfriend, went to high school and settled into a new environment. It was around the age of fourteen that I really got a grasp of those feelings again. I was sleeping over a friend’s house and we were talking up all night. I found it weird that he was asking me questions about my penis, and my body hair and somehow it made me realise that they were the same questions I wanted to know, and I always thought about. But, I pushed those feelings aside and went to sleep.

About a week later my best friend (and co-moderator of this blog Sophie) sat me down in the school library during lunchtime and told me that she liked other girls, and asked me if it was weird. Suddenly my best friend had gone from being straight to gay, and our lives changed. Our friends knew, but that was about it… however it made me realise that I too may also like other boys, and that I might be gay too.

After about a few weeks of Sophie identifying as a lesbian, I managed to build up the strength to tell Sophie and confess my undying love for boys! I knew from that moment I was gay! But I was so scared about the effect it would have on my peers, my friends… my family… So I kept it quiet and slowly spread the word. In a Catholic school, it wasn’t easy - but I was generally accepted by my friends as the transition was mostly stress-free.

All throughout high-school I was open about being gay to my teachers, my friends and other classmates in other year levels. I was just happy to be able to identify as homosexual and not feel that I was repressing my feelings. It was in my last year of school however that was interesting…

Mum was vacuuming in my room, and I was still in bed. After moving some washing off the floor and into my chest of drawers, Mum bumped some papers off the top of the drawers and onto the floor. I didn’t realise this, however, as I was asleep facing away from her. About 30 minutes later, Mum comes into my room and asks to sit on my bed. She asks me why I wrote a story about falling in love with a boy on a boat and if I wrote it. Blushing, I told her that yes, I wrote the story and that Sophie and I wrote stories about falling in love as a way to be comfortable with ourselves and to be creative. I expected a harsh reaction, as my mother is a stubborn woman… but… she hugged me with a big smile on her face and told me she was proud of me and that she was glad that I was happy with my sexual identity.

So my coming-out story isn’t a bad one, but it’s an interesting one to tell over a few drinks at the pub or over a garden salad at the cafe. All in all, I’m very happy to have supportive friends and family and to this day I’m still as happy being gay as I was when I was 14!

Much love,

Tuesday Avenue (aka Michael).

xoxo

Any thoughts, comments?

*Reposting for our new Followers.

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 14:50:13 -0400

Hello Tumblr!

As a member of the LGBT community, I have decided to start a Tumblr for our community. A place where you can answer questions, deep or superficial. By video, photo or text. Have fun, be honest. Let’s all get to know each other.

Question of the day: How did you come out? Who was it to? If you have not come out, what is holding you back? When do you plan to?

If you would give us a paragraph about you too, that’d be great!

So get to it! Submit!

*Reposting for our new Followers.

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 06:01:01 -0400

Hello Tumblr!

Question of the day: How did you come out? Who was it to? If you have not come out, what is holding you back? When do you plan to?

If you would give us a paragraph about you too, that’d be great!

So get to it! Submit! ;)

Co-Owner Submission.

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 05:57:42 -0400

Hello, My name is Jessica Katya-Ann, I’m known to some as Essa, some as Jessi, but for the most part I prefer Katya or Kat. I’m actually 20 years old as of today (October 24th) I’m Canadian by birth, lived there until I was around 6 years old, when my parents divorced. Then, I moved to Georgia, in the United States. Because I started school in Canada, I ended up graduating here at the age of 16. Very very young for my classes year, I was the baby. My life consists of one thing that matters more to me than anything, and that’s my beautiful one year old Daughter. Her name is Shi, and she’s the light at the end of the tunnel of a really abusive relationship. I’ve had a rough time in life, but I try my best not to let that bring me down. Some people disagree with my beliefs, but I am in fact a Christian, and I am in fact, bisexual. I’ve known for sure since I was 13, And I’ve lived the struggles.

Question of the day:

I think my journey more lies within my realization than my coming out, because making my friends come to terms with it was alot easier than coming to terms with it myself.

Before my mother left my father, he was very strict, very judgemental, very closed minded. He was never the type of father you could impress. If you tried to do so, he’d explain why you didn’t do it better. After we moved to the United States, I thought it was more of a blessing in diguise then a hardship that my father isn’t around, because even though I was young, I could express myself for what I wanted.

That freedom was short lived, because by the age of 11 my mother married a naive, bible thumping, closedminded man that didn’t really care for me to begin with. It damaged our already faltering relationship and I mostly felt like I was on my own. By the age of Thirteen, I was definitely one of the younger kids thrusted into a totally different scene. I was a sophomore, and a cheerleader, and attempting to fit in but I knew something was off. I found myself feeling different towards girls than how it seemed other girls were. I always found myself holding girls hands and feeling myself more attracted to them than boys, but I thought it was a phase, it’d go away.I was raised as a judgmental christian, I thought something was wrong with me.

I secretly started sneaking around, trying my best to research being gay, and being attracted to your same gender, and frankly most of the information was useless. I needed to talk to someone who understood. I found that understanding in the most surprising place ever. On a bookshelf in my really down to earth teacher’s classroom, I picked up a beautifully coloured book called.

It was and will always be, the legit best book I’ve ever read. It’s stories, coming out from the silence. It’s literally ever aspect of living a LGBT life. Whether you’re the lesbian, the questioning, the gay, the closeted, the trangender, the parent, the regretful, and finally the one who is hurt because she’s with a closeted gay. It was a wake up call. If I was gay, I’d hate to be married with children one day and have to break that mans heart by telling him I’m a lesbian.

After reading the stories of people so close to the situation, and really taking a step back and getting to know myself, I realized I was bisexual. I could fall in love with a boy just as well as a girl, I could physically be with a girl just as well as a boy. I came to this conclusion, and then I sat on it for awhile.

I didn’t know how to bring it up to my friends, I didn’t know how to go about it until one day it just.. slipped out. I wasn’t scared, They were my friends, and if they really were, they would except me either way. I simply stated in the conversation on religion, “I’m bisexual, and I worship God. He doesn’t hate me for it, and he’s never said that he has.” That was it. They accepted me.

But, life is never that easy. The girls on the cheer team used to act like I was attracted to every single set of legs that would be changing in the locker room. None would change in from of me, and instead of Jessi, I’d hear them sometimes refer to me as ‘Lesbi’ They tried to get me kicked off the team, and they’d make lock ins torture. They’d say stuff like ‘No pillow fights, we might turn Jessi on’ and shit. But I didn’t care, most times. I’d just walk away.

But one night at a lock in, They started saying things and I just left, walked outside and sat down. I was pretty broken about it. But one of the girls followed me out, and we were friends but not very close. She confided in me that she was also struggling with her sexuality, and for the first time not only had someone accepted me for me, she leaned in and pressed her lips to mine. We started dating after that, not very long, but proudly so, holding hands walking down the hallway.I still think about her from time to time, and how we effected the beginning of a change of acceptance to my highschool. Which at this point is so much more accepting than alot of highschools in the United States.

*I never came out to my parents, because honestly I don’t like to be around them enough for their disapproval to be matter. But if one day I marry a girl, and we’re happy. I’ll make sure to send them invitations.

Question of the day, Submission!

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 05:11:00 -0400

My name is Sophie (perfectlyunclear.tumblr.com), I am co-owner of this website. I’m Australian born and raised for almost 19 years. I am a lesbian, and have known so since I was just a small child. I am also a broke University student, studying to be a Nurse and Midwife. I’m a little quirky, hyper and awkward at times. I always have a lot to say though and I stand up for what I believe in.

My coming out story?

Well, it’s a little boring to be honest. I remember sitting in the library with my friend, Michael. (Who later came out to me) I was contemplating the reaction that I would get from my peers if I were to come out. I was 13 years old. I turned to him and I said. “What do you think people at this school think of gay people?” He looked at me for a few seconds and then asked me, “Why”. So I said those four words, “I think I’m gay!”

Unfortunately, I was too chicken to come out and I let a friend of mine convince me to “try and like guys”. It didn’t work, for me and for them. I couldn’t hide it anymore so I decided to come out to my family. It didn’t go as planned. I kept freaking out everytime I went to say it. My parents were overseas in the States and it was just my brother, sister and I. I was 15 years old. My sister used to make occasional cringing noises at the thought of lesbian couples. At the dinner table we had a fight which led to me yelling at the top of my lungs, “OH AND BY THE WAY, I’M GAY, SO GETTING F$%#ing USED TO IT!” and up the stairs I stormed. They told my parents over the phone not long after. My Mum asked to talk to me and simply said, “We love you no matter what!” All of them have been very supportive. I have lost friends and I did get bullied A LOT after coming out. I had things thrown at me, people make jeers whilst doing speeches and someone telling me I should be put on an island and shot. Despite this, I constantly spoke out for my rights all throughout high school, and I am proud that I did!

If you would like to tell us about yourself and/or tell us about your ‘coming out’, please send us a message with your answer. It can be in text, photo, or video! xxx

Our first submission! "Le Question of Zee Day"

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 21:41:55 -0400

Le greetings. My name is Joey (girl). Just clearing that up… I’m currently a junior in college. I always tend to get awkward, while writing a paragraph about myself. O_o I’m not quite sure why, though. I could see I’m your average college student, but I’m really not. I’m ridiculously hyper for a 20 year old. I’m definitely a late bloomer when it comes to most things, especially coming out to family and friends. To be honest, I just started to get comfortable in my own skin this past year. I was lucky enough to get friends that made it very easy to be myself. (ONE OF WHICH IS A CO-ADMIN TO THIS SITE!!) The only other thing I guess that needs to be said, a fact that I tend to work in everywhere, is that Im Puerto Rican and Mexican. B-) Oh jes.

Question of the Day:

I could say I came out to my friends first, but I really didn’t. My girlfriend at the time did that for me. The first person I came out to on my own was my mom. ‘Til this day, she is really the only family member who knows about my sexuality. My friends kind of pieced it together through the jealous rantings of my then girlfriend. I had broken up, or rather gotten broken up with, with my girlfriend of one year and I wasn’t taking it too well. It was a really tough time for me. The fact that I had moved to a new state for my first year of college, and knew virtually no one, didn’t really help. I needed someone, anyone really, to talk to about everything. My mother and I had always been pretty close and it only seemed right to turn to her. I was in tears, so she really didn’t understand what I was saying. It took me so long to actually form the words that I was shaking and I couldn’t really say anything, so I wrote the words down. (Not one of my bravest moments.) She was stunned, obviously. I was the good catholic school girl with a bright future, great grades and a boy crazy demeanor. She had no reason to suspect that I may have possibly been hiding something. She told me that it was a sin, like any other sin, but a sin nonetheless. My heart sunk into my chest and the only thing that made everything better was this: “There is nothing, absolutely nothing, that could ever make me love you less.” My mother still thinks that its wrong, but she really doesn’t love me any less. I get nervous when I stare at a girl for too long around her, but… I don’t know. It isn’t perfect, but I have hope that she will understand one day. I haven’t really come out to the rest of my family, because they are a very old school Hispanic family. In fact, one of my cousins caught wind of a rumour about me having a girlfriend and decided to take it upon himself to “beat the gay” out of me just in case. It wasn’t exactly a great experience. Truth be told, the only people I really care about telling are my father and my little sister. One day I’ll be brave enough to tell them and I know my mom may not agree, but she’ll love me and they’ll love me all the same. More importantly, the more people I get comfortable enough with to tell, the more I feel like I become the person I want to be.

Any thoughts, comments?

Rainbow Filled Skies is a site strictly dedicated to the needs...

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 13:06:54 -0400

Rainbow Filled Skies is a site strictly dedicated to the needs of the LGBT community. Whether you’ve been that person bullied and need a shoulder, or you’re a struggling teen or adult growing up in modern society living a day by day LGBT life. We’re the website for you, Whether you need that comfort, or to read encouraging stories, or simply just get something off your chest, we aim to help.
*We’re here for you, because we’ve been there too.

Let's hear about you!

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 12:29:00 -0400

YOU are what can make this Tumblr thrive and grow. We hope to unite all of you who are LGBT, as well as supporters.

Here is a blank canvas to express yourself. Tell us about YOU! Any suggestions of what you would like to see on here are welcome! So get submitting

-> http://rainbowfilledskies.tumblr.com/submit

Don’t forget to send through your coming out stories as well: http://rainbowfilledskies.tumblr.com/post/11815778619/question-of-the-day

Equality for the LGBT Community.

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 12:19:55 -0400

Here is a list of websites that are in the fight for equal rights. Many also offer support, resources and guidance.

United we stand, divided we fall.

- Sophie

FAQ Page

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 12:11:00 -0400

I thought it might be useful to make a FAQs page for those of you who have these types of questions and would like to read over them. Our ask box is always open for more. -Katya *Some of these questions have been added from the GLBT National Help Center.

Q: How do you know if you’re gay?

A:Understanding your sexual orientation is really about understanding your long-term feelings and attractions. It has nothing to do with whether you have acted on those feelings yet or not. Just about all mainstream mental health experts now believe that someone’s sexual orientation, regardless of whether they are gay, lesbian, straight or bisexual, is something that forms in each person either before we are born, or within the very first few years of each person’s life. Way before we are making conscious decisions about anything. So people don’t choose to be gay, just like people don’t choose to be straight. Being gay, lesbian or bisexual may not be as common as being straight, but it is considered just as normal. While not everyone falls perfectly under the labels of “gay”, “straight” or “bisexual”, generally someone who is attracted in a physical and/or romantic way to only people of the same-sex might consider themselves to be gay or lesbian. People who are only attracted to people of the opposite-sex might consider themselves to be straight and someone who has some level of attraction to both males and females might consider themselves to be bisexual.

Q: What does “transgender” mean, and what does it include?

A: The term “transgender” is an umbrella term that includes different things, all having to do with gender identity. This can include someone who occasionally enjoys dressing in the clothing of the opposite sex (cross-dresser) or someone who knows that the gender that they feel on the inside of their body does not match the gender that they appear to be on the outside of their body (transsexual). Being transgendered is different from being gay, lesbian or bisexual, although some people who are transgendered may also happen to be gay, lesbian or bi. For those people who are transsexual, and know that the gender on the outside of their body does not match the gender they feel inside, they may sometimes decide to make changes to their appearance in different ways. Some people make those changes only through the clothing that they wear, others will work with a knowledgeable physician for hormone treatment, and a relative few will have some form (or many forms) of sex-reassignment surgery. The term “transitioning” applies to the period of time when people are making these changes. You can find local transgender resources near you, by visiting our resource website, and easily searching through all of our 15,000 listings at www.GLBTnearMe.org

Q: What does it mean when someone is bisexual?

A: Being bisexual is a wonderful gift, since it means that you have the capacity to be attracted to either males or females, depending on the person. Some people who are bisexual may have a stronger attraction to one gender over the other, but there is enough of an attraction to both for them to consider themselves to be bi. Bisexuality, like homosexuality or heterosexuality are all normal variations of sexual orientation. Being bisexual is not a phase, nor does it mean that people can’t “make up their minds”. While it is true that some people who are gay or lesbian may initially identify as bisexual, the vast majority of bisexual people have genuine feelings of physical and romantic attractions to both genders. Bisexual people also have the capacity to form long-term, loving and monogamous relationships with another individual, if that is what they are looking for at that point in their lives, just as anyone else can.

Q: I’m not sure if I am LGBT?

A: This is always a critical time in someone’s life, you’re not expected to wake up some day and say “Well, I think I’m gay.” It takes time, and it takes realizing who you are as a person if this may even be a plausible conclusion. You have to come to terms with all of that, and then move on to if you are attracted to boys, girls, both, or if you’re transgendered all together. Then, you need to come to terms with that realization. This is all about you, and your journey to realize who you are. There is no wrong answer, only different outcomes.

Q: Should I come-out to my parents and friends?

A: Deciding to come-out to a family member or friend is a very big decision. There is no “right” or “wrong” answer as to whether you should or shouldn’t do that. Many people first come-out to themselves, and give themselves some time to understand and become comfortable with their feelings. The decision to come-out to another person often involves two decisions. First, should they come-out, and second, when should they do it. If someone decides to come-out to another person, the most important criteria is to think about whether you will be physically safe if you do so. If you feel that the other person might react so negatively as to cause you physical or emotional violence, then you might decide to wait until you would feel safer. Many people who do come-out feel like a great weight has been lifted off of their shoulders, and living your life in an open and honest way is certainly the most desirable thing to do. It can help to think about all the positive things that would come from being out to someone, and any of the negative consequences of doing so, and then weigh each possible choice to see which makes the most sense for this time in your life. If you do decide to come-out, some people find it helps to first pick one person who they think might be the most supportive and respectful. Sometimes that person could be someone who is themselves GLBT, or if not, a close friend or family member.

Q: My child told me they are gay or bisexual and I don’t know what to do.

A: Finding out that a son or daughter is either gay, lesbian or bisexual can be big news for a parent. Many parents want to be supportive, but they aren’t sure how, and they have many questions. The first step is to remember that your child is still the same person they were before you knew their sexual orientation, the only difference is that you now know more about them. If they have shared this information with you, it’s a very big step for a person to take, and regardless of whether they told you soon after understanding this for themselves, or after some time, they have told you because they want to be able to talk openly about their life, in the same way every other child does. Often, parents need time to educate and inform themselves about issues related to sexual orientation, and that’s okay (an excellent organization that helps parents of GLBT kids is called PFLAG. They have local chapters throughout the country, and you can learn more about them at www.pflag.org). But the most important thing to do is keep your lines of communication open with your child, and remind them that you love and respect them, and that you are a safe person for them to talk to. Just about all mainstream mental health experts now believe that someone’s sexual orientation, regardless of whether they are gay, lesbian, straight or bisexual, is something that forms in each person either before we are born, or within the very first few years of each person’s life. So nothing causes people to “turn” gay, just like nothing causes people to “turn” straight. People are whatever sexual orientation they are, often from birth. Being gay or straight has nothing to do with the way a child was raised, or who did or didn’t raise them. Some parents often make the mistake of thinking that if their child has not yet acted on their feelings, then they can’t really know “for sure”. The best analogy to put this in perspective is that if a 16 year-old boy was 100% heterosexual, nobody would think that he can’t really be sure until he has sex with a girl. They would accept that he knows that he likes girls, and that he is straight. The same is true for a 16 year-old boy who is attracted to other boys. He knows his feelings, just like anybody else, and whether he has physically acted on those feelings or not, really is not relevant to understanding and accepting his sexuality.

Q: I like another kid at school and don’t know what to do.

A: Starting to discover that you are attracted to another person can be exciting, terrifying, wonderful and scary, often all at the same time! But it helps to remember that sometimes, the person you may be attracted to may not have those same feelings, often because of something that has absolutely nothing to do with you. The other person might only be attracted to people of the opposite-sex, or may not have developed feelings for anybody yet. Of course, the most direct way to let someone know that you like them is to tell them. But we realize that is not always easy, especially if you don’t know if the other person is gay, lesbian or bisexual themselves. If you are uncomfortable asking, some people bring up a topic that has to do with being gay, and see what the other person’s reaction is. If they are homophobic (disrespectful to gay people), then that can let you know this isn’t someone worth your time anyway. But if they are gay-friendly, while it certainly doesn’t mean they are gay or lesbian themselves, it might make it easier for you to let them know about yourself, and see how your friendship develops. The bottom line is that you deserve to be with someone who can have the same feelings for you, that you have for them.

Q: I’m religious and believe in God. Is being gay a sin?

A: While some religions still maintain homophobic viewpoints, more and more people of all religious faiths are coming to understand that what really matters to God is that you are a good and honest person, and not what your sexual orientation happens to be. Many religious people now believe that being gay or lesbian or bisexual is perfectly normal for many people. As you probably know, some people who consider themselves to be religious, choose to use their religious faith as a reason to practice discrimination and homophobia. That’s the last thing religion should be used for, as the Bible teaches us not to judge others. The Bible was written and translated by men two thousand years ago or more, often hundreds of years after the events described in it supposedly took place. So in many ways, the Bible is an historical document, and a product of the time it was written in. Remember, the Bible also talks about women being the property of men, and the right to own slaves, etc. Fortunately, today we as a modern society understand more about science and sexuality than people did two millenniums ago. It would be a terrible waste of the brains we were given if we didn’t grow as individuals and as a society, taking into account all the knowledge we have learned in the past 2,000 years. As more people distance themselves from the discrimination of others, more and more welcoming congregations of all faiths are serving the GLBT community, allowing people to practice their faith in a loving and supportive environment. Some examples of welcoming denominations are United Church of Christ (UCC), the Unitarian Universalists and the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) which is a predominately GLBT non-denominational Christian Church. You can learn more about MCC by visiting their website at www.MCCchurch.org. You can find local GLBT-friendly religious resources near you, by visiting our resource website, and easily searching through all of our 15,000 listings at www.GLBTnearMe.org.

*Questions to be added later.

Question of the day!

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 09:11:00 -0400

Hello Tumblr!

Question of the day: How did you come out? Who was it to? If you have not come out, what is holding you back? When do you plan to?

If you would give us a paragraph about you too, that’d be great!

So get to it! Submit! ;)

xxx