“I was trying hard ‘to pray the gay away,’ spending all my energies and resources for the religion, going on missionary work in other countries, but a storm was brewing within me”

“Before we moved in together they caught us and Seperated us, and they sent the love of my life away to souTh america. She gave up as we were far and suffering. Our Families got what they wanted eventually, and now i have to pr tend its all ok and that i no longer feel this love for her.”

“I pretty much knew from the get go that I was somewhat different. The word ‘gay’ to me was completely unknown, totally alien. My first experience of this word came from hearing various stories about how disgusting and criminal gays were to society. At the time, homosexual acts were illegal. Witnessing a man taunted and beaten in the street validated the fact that in no way would I ever express my sexuality in this country, the thought was completely terrifying.”

“It was a rare day if ‘Homo’, ‘faggot’ or ‘gay’ was not shouted at me, living in a small village meant That i Had deal with small minded people. Being 12 years old and constantly Being Told you were ‘gay’ was a weird thing.”

“I went to an all boys grammar school, where the words ‘gay’ and ‘faggot’ were often thrown around. I felt the need to hide and ‘stay in the closest’ because being openly gay was not socially acceptable there. I didn’t want to give the bullies another reason to harass me, because they already bullied me for the colour of my skin, my demeanour and my feminine voice.”

“I hated the fact that I was becoming someone who I didn’t recognise… who would believe a 11-year-old tom boy when she says ‘I feel like a boy’? nobody.”

“As soon as I came out everything changed. I was so scared, I can’t go to town without people being rude… I haven’t fully accepted myself yet but when that day comes it will be the best day ever.”