Matthew Thompson (I'm From Maple Grove, MN) - True Gay Stories

[Oruboris]

The very effeminate guys we see so much in the media are simply the most visible members of our community. They get most of the attention, but take most of the abuse as well, and for that they have my admiration and respect...

Yet the idea that this is what it means to be gay is still a damaging stereotype, and it would be great to see a more diverse representation of gay men in the media.

[farmboywill01]

I'm from Wisconsin a dairy farmer my name is Bill.

[usernamessucks01]

does it really have to matter if it isnt racially diverse?...i mean i'm asian and its ok for me

[rainty98]

@usernamessucks01 Yes. It matters.

[jhr459]

@rainty98 - I want to know why you think it matters and to what you attribute this lack to. If Driftwood is/are receiving videos or emails from racially diverse individuals and then ignoring them, then yes, it would seem to be a problem. If the reason is that Hispanics and African Americans and Asians etc are not replying, then they should continue doing it just as they are. It is my understanding that the aforementioned are a bit more reticent to come out currently because of their communities

[steve4jesuschrist]

I am from Maple Grove :) My name is steve , I am gay also :)

[stonej82]

Hey Matthew.....The Roman Catholic Church is not against being gay. Your welcome to be catholic and gay.  I hope you come back to our church. Most RC's dont even know that being gay in itself is not against the RCC's beliefs. I have ran into many gays that leave the RCC and its sad. If you look around the church nobody is not sinning. It drives me crazy that people have become obsessed with others when they need to focus on their own sins.

[newteamember]

I currently live in Maple Grove, and Matthew is 100% correct about the gay stereotypes in this part of the country. Lucky, the community is much more accepting of LGBT persons than even just 5 years ago.

[Joe9428]

How being effeminate is abnormal?

[gaylolful]

@Joe9428 It's not...people just thinks it's not normal because they're not used to it...they're uneducated....

[chemmanmark]

I was recently asked an innocuous question by a friend. What it means to be gay. My answer was unexpected. Although being gay is an integral part of my psyche and emotional being, its meaning has changed though moments in my life. When I was young with little concept of gay it was hate and ridicule-As a young adult it was secrets, self hate, and denial-As an older adult it was awareness, discovery and love-And now it is contentment, true self and social resposibility. Human Rights=Gay Rights

[budnboston]

the Catholic church teaches ( i m not a roman catholic ) if you engage in homosexual sexual you are sinning but if you are just "gay" by orientation but do not engage in homosexual sex then you are not sinning

[paulahare2]

GOOD VIDEO

[fabreadering]

These true gay stories aren't racially diverse at all.

[The13robeezy]

@fabreadering maybe it's a race thing. I really don't know many openly, gay black people who aren't obviously queer.

[arnelakawhitewash]

Matthew, will you marry me?

[BlaqJm18]

Wow I can definitely relate to his story, thank you so much for posting this one!

[EatSleepBreathMovies]

@BlaqJm18: Im glad to hear my story helped out some. I hope everything is going well for you

[rainty98]

There is a problem with Matthew's comment. He is asserting that "twinks" aren't "regular guys." It is this covert type of language that we need to be aware of because it separates people and furthers discrimination.

[EPRVa62]

@rainty98 It's actually a homophobic comment in itself.

[EatSleepBreathMovies]

@rainty98: Yeah i definitely realized afterwards that I could have been more eloquent in my language during the interview. What i was trying to get across is that there is a stereotype to being gay, and I didnt fit that stereotype, and I was afraid for a long time that if i recognized my sexuality it would somehow force me to change who I was to conform to this image. What I learned from coming out is that you don't have to "be" anything to be gay, you can just be yourself.

[lcowles]

@rainty98 I totally agree. It's also quite concerning how many gay men are concerned with "acting straight" or being a "straight-acting" gay guy. What IS straight-acting or gay-acting anyway? All there are are individual personality traits for individual people...not groups of people. Sylvester Stallone is straight, but so is Woody Allen. There's a wide range there. So why is it that whatever we perceive "straight-acting" to be...that it's better to be THAT? It comes from intrnalized hatred

[aegletes]

Thank you, Matt, for doing your part in giving hope to young gay people across the country. Only in being out and living open and honest lives can we achieve true happiness in life.

[nejiset]

im from crystal. mn. klose 2 u huh!

[astronauticalism]

yes, thanks! I'm feeling lonely and this all sort of helps

[EatSleepBreathMovies]

@astronauticalism : Im glad I could help out, I hope things are going well for you

[MOKandRIFF]

Thank You, Matthew!