I know I'm not alone.

From a very early age, I was browbeaten by homophobia. I was subjected to extreme homophobia every day. "Faggots" and "queers" and "cocksucker" were thrown around all the time. They weren't usually directed at me personally, but the words and the hateful attitude were in the air. It made me afraid to reveal who I was to anyone. I felt I could be attacked at any moment. I was a kid, and I felt like I was in a war zone trying to survive. And that permanently changed how I perceive the world. I will never feel completely at home anywhere because of it. I will never feel truly at ease around people. And I know I'm not alone.