by Jodie Chadwick

Created on: April 17, 2008   Last Updated: December 04, 2010

When i was 16 I started work for a Law Firm and quickly became friends with a Male colleague who was the same age as me. We used to go out for meals and drinks after work and this carried on for approximately two years. One day he finally confided in me that he was Gay. Although I had already guessed this it still came as a shock that he just "came out" one day whilst I was eating my Lasagna! He asked my advice on what he should do with regards to telling people. The only advice I could give him was to do what his heart was telling him. He desperately wanted to tell his mother but was scared. His mother also worked with us at the Law Firm so I also knew her quite well. She loved her son very much and I knew that no matter what he told her she would continue to love him. And she did. He finally plucked up the courage and told her. She wasn't over the moon but she wasn't disappointed either. She says "just because my son is gay doesn't make him a bad person or me a bad mother, people are what they are. It doesn't matter how you bring them up they will always eventually be their own person and nothing you can do will change that".

The worst part about my friend "coming out" were the rest of our colleagues at the Law Firm. Because most of the Partners were men they all avoided my friend as best they could. Because he was Gay they all acted as though it was an infectious disease. This carried on for about 4 months until in the end he could take no more and left his job. I think this sort of behavior is ignorant and rude and I am ashamed to say that some of them were my friends (although not anymore after what they did)

Everyone is entitled to their opinions but to treat someone as if they are dirt because they are LGBT is completely wrong. It is those people who should be ostracized for the way they are not the LGBT person.

You would think "coming out" in this day and age would be easier than back in the 40's and 50's etc but its not. Pig-headed attitudes are still around. Even though more and more celebrities are "coming out", look at John Barrowman and Elton John. Does it make them any less a person because of their sexuality? No it doesn't John Barrowman is still a terrific actor/performer and Elton John is still a wonderful Singer who sells millions of records every year.

Whether someone is Lesbian, Gay Bisexual or Transgender does it really matter? They are still the same person they were before they "Came out" and at the end of the day at least they were honest enough towards their friends and family to share the information with them and also be true to themselves.

Does it not say in the Bible "forgive them their sins"? If being LGBT is really a sin then shouldn't they be forgiven for it and accepted by the community? They are not hurting anybody and yet they are always punished for being LGBT. The world we live in is a cruel place and I can only hope it will change as the years go on. I certainly do not want my children growing up in a world so ignorant and cruel to people who are not "normal"!

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