WP (Young & Gay Part 2): A Slow Journey From Isolation

[kskiska]

Monday, September 27, 2004; Page A01

Peace came to Michael Shackelford last year inside a psychiatric ward. He was 16 and his mother had just discovered his relationship with another young man. Feeling alone and frightened, and unable to imagine his future as a gay teenager in rural Oklahoma, Michael bought 10 packets of ephedrine-laced powder from the mini-mart and swallowed them all, which is how he landed at Laureate Psychiatric Clinic and Hospital, his belt and shoelaces confiscated.

At first, in group therapy, Michael was withdrawn. He'd never discussed being gay with anyone. After a few days, he uncrossed his arms and began talking. No one laughed. No one threatened him. No one said he was going to hell. On discharge day, Michael didn't want to leave. But he couldn't stay forever because real life was waiting beyond the double doors.

Now a year later, his initial anguish of awakening to his sexuality has eased. He is making his first bumbling, fumbling attempts at human connection. With a girl, it would be simple. "You just go up to her," Michael says, shrugging. In this new and unknown territory, he has no clue what to do or say. Every calculation is accompanied by a risk: "I could get the crap beat out of me."

One night at the mall he sees a clerk at Abercrombie & Fitch who he thinks might be gay. Heart pounding, Michael decides to go for it.

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A52563-2004Sep26.html

[Celeborn Skywalker]

1. Kick n/t

[tishaLA]

2. It's just heartbreaking

I've read these first two installments and they make me so sad.

[kokomo]

3. nothing but cultural murder condoned by the self-righteous

I cannot imagine a mother placing the sentiments of her hate filled pastor over the love of a son. I don't respect her. She cares more about what others think of her than she does about the health and happiness of her child.

"I want to say this lifestyle he's chosen, in one aspect, he's asked for it," Janice Shackelford says while Michael is at the hospital for counseling. "I know that sounds harsh. I guess there is something to be said about staying in the closet." She begins to cry.

No child asks for such hate!

I was pleasantly surprised that Michael's father was accepting.

I find the hatespeak of the Oklahoma Republican politicians outrageous. How many teen suicides were caused by their murderous words? Blood is on their hands. May they rot in hell!

[Scooter24]

4. Fantastic article...

A good friend of mine, also gay, grew up about an hour away from where Michael lives. Being a gay city boy my entire life, I couldn't imagine having to live under the immense pressure that this young man has to go thru.

I will make sure to send Anne, the author, a praising fax.

There are two more installments to this story next Sunday and Monday.

[Raster]

5. I can't wait to read the rest of the series....as a gay man that grew...

...up in a small town in Arizona, I can more than identify with Michael. My heart goes out to him. We gays were born gay. Every research study confirms this. I didn't ask to be born gay, neither did Michael, and in backwater Oklahoma, no less.

It's too bad his mother can't read our comments. I would like to appeal to her christian charity and understanding. Do you think God, who is supposedly all loving and all powerful, would create gays only for them to suffer? I think not. Any christian religion, priest, pastor, elder, etc. that advocates hate and misunderstanding is serving his agenda, not God's.