Re: National Coming Out Day

[depfox]

Great video

[jackschueth]

thank you im going to be a freshmen and i joined a frat thank you

[XxXElectroBonesXxX]

OMG! Your so Handsome!!!

[tkeli966]

Just like my fraternity. Accepting and diverse. TKE nation for life!

[Gilgiko]

great man ! welcome !! be happy

[tahoemack]

Derrick, Good for you for coming out. I had come out in high school; yet I was rushed by every frat on campus. The one I was most worried about turned out to be the most accepting. SAE. So I pledged them. So nice some of the national frats are so much more liberal today. From the looks of you and your articulation expressing yourself, you are a great example inspiration for other gay guys to come out. Thank you. We didn't have a TKE Chapter on our campus.

[bordenmartin]

This is not from bordenmartin. It is from tahoemack. Both this one and the one below. Why this is happening I have no idea.

[bordenmartin]

I came across your video late. You seem to have "it all together". Very nice looking, articulate, and well educated. Glad your frat life was so rewarding. We definitely need more people such as you speaking up and coming out to the rest of the world. I know people would be staggered if they knew how many of us were GLBT. Probably many GLBT people would be too.  Thank you for your video.

[bajangirl91]

aww great story...your vry bold

[MrStrav81]

You will find that it is a lot easier to come out in the college environment than it is to in the workplace. I myself am out to my family and to my close friends, but I am not out at work (I work in the corporate world, professional). I work for a company that is very family-oriented, and has a nearly non-existant GLBT network. We're talking at least Fortune 100... You will find that coming out is something you will have to do over and over again for the rest of your life.

[jadenhotguy]

I wish I had a fraternity like yours that would have supported me. That would also fulfill my frat fantasy. lol.

[2dboy]

you are so handsome and smart sounding and very well adjusted.

i would be proud to take u on a date!

[2dboy]

@Ksanj13 yes, that is what he just said, thanks for stating the obvious.

loser

why even say something like that after someone shared something so personal.

[Grundig80]

Derrick, thanks for sharing this! I never had the guts to come 100% out when I was in my fraternity. Looking back now I can there really was no big deal.

[Maximaboy1]

I have to commend you for your bravery for being willing to wear that pin in that fraternity setting, but congratulations nonetheless!

[MrSammyConcepcion]

I just want to know whether white gay guys find Asian men attractive. If you're a white gay guy, please let me know, OK? Thanks in advance......

[b28e]

it's all in the preference. i'm sure it's possible, if that's what you're asking, but it's different for everyone.

[TheSublimeAgent]

What an awesome video. I went to one of the gayest universities in the world (Pepperdine University) and hardly ANYONE has the same courage you had! Congrats, you have earned my respect!

[cifenton]

BRAVO. If you're watching, wondering if you should come out... do it. If your family and friends really love you, they will not care whom you love. The more we come out, the more people will understand we are their sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, parents, friends, co-workers, and neighbors.

[Golfina]

Nice video. I wish I had come out when I was in college too. I think that would have been fun.

[acdust10]

good job frater....I have been open from day one and it has worked out

[ItsJustJasmine]

im a dancer so i am used to like half the guys being gay

(i'm a girl btw)

[LoveHandels69]

nice video cutie.... great job!!!

[nopueden1]

cute!!! call me baby

[rolang3a]

Sorry is sahring lol! By the way, you are very cute, man!!!!!!

[rolang3a]

You know... thank you for charing this. I know it's hard, for me was even harder but I know someday we will not be afraid of telling the others about this because it doesn't change our personality or the quality of the person... It's been amazing hearing this, it reminds me when I told my friends, all of them are straight, and they accpet me, that is wonderful!!!! Thank you for this! Maybe we'll never meet each other, but have a nice life! ;)

[trunks1102]

Thank you everyone for all your support. Every now and again I remeber to check the comments on this video and it warms my heart to hear all the nice things you have to say. (I also just ignore all the mean things) I hope that everyone can find the home and group of friends I have in my fraternity. I'm an alum now, in the real world and I miss my brothers a ton. Lots of love and respect to everyone who took the time to watch and comment.

[Ray3010]

Thanks for sharing, Derek! Awesome!

[Theclowcard]

I can marry you now ,hottie

You are so adorable

[StraightActingGayGuy]

It's alway so nice when people are supportive. Generally, college students are pretty cool with gay people.

[YoungBoss08Major]

not white trash

[lamelamez]

yawnnn

[jhr459]

I was out my senior year, but by that time, I had moved out of the house and really had a different circle of friends. I still did chapter dinners, etc, but it was different. Anyway, there was a big bar that everybody went to - it was a gay bar mainly, but it had a big crossover appeal. One saturday night , I was there with my boyfriend and was dancing with a group of friends and I was really getting into it. I then did a turn away from my friends ...

[jhr459]

and was essentially facing the edge of the dance floor and there was six of my frat brothers and their dates -all of whom I knew. I was standing there facing all of them and just sorta waved-they turned and left . I wasn't looking forward to Monday night chapter dinner, but it was OK, sorta. Some of the brothers spoke to me and some didn't , but I was pretty much moving away from the frat anyway. The guys that were my friends remained and those that weren't apparently weren't from the beginning.

[proudok]

most frats are supper cool with gay bros! lol at my college at least i know of two that have gay members and guys from other frats have friends that are gay and there is no problem! I think is all about respect! as days go by i come to find out that so many people are very accepting, EVEN my bro who recently turned 14 has no problems with homosexuality and that made me feel happy cuz he will defend me from the bullies!!!! literally ! -well he doesnt know about me yet though!

[HarveyMilkPride]

I would never be able to do something like this but with the inspiration I have HOPE that someday I will.

[vijalandia]

you're really cute and good for you for coming out

[torak7]

Your really cute! ;)

[russm92107]

Thanks for your coming out story. I am myself a TKE alumni.

[singer11]

Do u have a Myspace or Facebook?

[JPVinny1234]

You are a great guy. I wish you lived in San Francisco. You are the kind of friend that I would like to have.

[004Daniel]

youre cute

[2MarDunJac2]

I'm from Australia so I don't really get the whole fraternity thingy... (we don't have em here)

[smith3sw]

I love ur story! Good For you!

[DrKeithTaylor]

Good for you man. I'm out to my family and friends, but I'm not sure if I'd have the confidence to come out to hundreds of straight guys at the same time. Kudos!

[loopy77]

thanks for...uummm...telling your...uummm...story, lol. Seriously, I appreciate it. I'm fascinated by how other people came out.

[ifsaica]

Hello,

Great coming out story! Let me play devil's advocate-Do you think the acceptance from most of your frat brothers and friends could be because you do not seem like the stereotypical "gay guy?" It seems within the gay community, there are so many different degrees of gayness, that you appear to be more masculine and could quite possibly pass for straight. Whereas, someone who might wear their sexual orientation on their sleeve, may perhaps have a much more difficult time coming out.

[shakthi124]

hmm... interesting point..

[trunks1102]

MY apologies for the late response. But honestly, from what I have found, my specific chapter is accepting of all men as long as they are men of personal worth and character. We have a very wide range of brothers. I can say honestly that we have what most would consideras stereotypically gay brothers and they are just as much a welcome part of our brotherhood than any other brother of personal worth and character.

[friendlymojito]

frater, saw ur sweatshirt on here as i was randomly youtubing. yitb, from a gay teke!

[hing1378]

lol franchement, t'es mignon, mais, mais je suis pas homo, mais juste un coup d'oeil , je sais que t'es homo !!!

en anglais," you are so gay!"

[nat121313]

Im just wondering do the fraternity helps out the community or they just drinks and do nasty x-rated activities in front of peoples because I be hearing from peoples.

[nat121313]

I think that fraternity is for loser and they doing nasty thing..

[IcabodCR]

Coming out is hard, let alone when you're in a fraternity. I've just started the process of coming out to my chapter with pretty positive reactions. Anyway, good luck and grats.

[iyotiduot]

Dude, you didn't even say bye. lol. Anyhoo, congrats! :)

[aManOnaJourney]

"I look into the window of my mind Reflections of the fears I've left behind I step out of the ordinary I can feel my soul ascending I am on my way, Can't stop me now And you can do the same What have you done today to make you feel proud? It's never too late to try You could be so many people If you make that break for freedom" (PROUD by Heather Small) Thanks for sharing

[Picard031]

Hey, thanks for your video man. It's real brave of you. We are actually the same age, and I'm also a senior at my University (in SA). So I think we have a lot in common there.. I'd like to get in touch some how? Just to chat. If you're up for it (and sorry if I sound like a stalker, not my intention)?

[xhauntedpassionx]

I appreciate your bravery. ^_^

Pretty much everyone in this town are huge homophobes, and I hate it.

Everywhere I go, there is someone yelling, "Whoever talks next is gay", like it is something bad.

I, for one, have recently found myself attracted to one of my female (and slightly homophobic) best friends. -_-

Your story is very inspirational. =D

[Jakemmx]

I am gay and in a fraternity ... I have yet to come out and don't plan on it my senior year. Though my brothers would support me (we had a openly gay brother 2 years ago), the school is far too homophobic for me to want to deal with it ... at least along with dealing with my parents....

Anyway, congrats :)

It takes a lot of courage.

[cagnazzo82]

Wow you're hot, great story btw :-)

[mykee83]

Thanks for sharing your story man!

[gilgamesh82odin]

damn you are hot!!!!! Besides that... I admire your strength. I want to come out to my sis... but I'm kinda afraid..... But congratulations on your coming out to your friends.

[savinit]

good on you mate.

[RealityChekr]

Kirk & Madsen:

"STEP 1: TALK ABOUT GAYS AND GAYNESS AS LOUDLY AND AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE.

The principle behind this advice is simple: almost any behavior begins to look normal if you are exposed to enough of it at close quarters and among your acquaintances. "

[umfk26]

Some people can really surprise you on how accepting they truly can be. I praise everyone that has the courage to come out and live their lives truthfully.

[oifgdsdfg]

Hi, thanks for your video, I'm still in the closet and still thinking that if somehow I come out, all the people around me would scream and yell :S I know that apparentely the world would go on spinning but I'm not quite sure... Thanks to all of you that behave showing that gay guys are not "pink creatures". Thank you :) and sorry for my English.

[Boezoek]

Hey trunks1102,

Nice story, I'm gay as well and I was prepared to get some negative reactions of my family or friends, but the same as your friends/ family/ people you know they accepted it. They were like O yeah :) you got a boy friend already :D.

Thanks for your video.

Don't mined the Homophobic response message's

Cheers Boezoek.

[RealityChekr]

"STEP 1: TALK ABOUT GAYS AND GAYNESS AS LOUDLY AND AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE.

The principle behind this advice is simple: almost any behavior begins to look normal if you are exposed to enough of it at close quarters and among your acquaintances. "

[B3ebz]

lol...

such stupidity amuzes me also..

keep talken..

Im haven fun..

[trunks1102]

Hey guys, thanks for so much support. I was really nervous to post this video, but you guys rock ( well most of you) Dont let anyone ever get you down or make you feel bad about yourself.

[B3ebz]

ur hott..

dats all i gotta say..

[B3ebz]

lol.. im so glad to see stupid str8 idiots wasting time to comment gay pplz vids...lol..

and who looked up and saw this vid??

Ahah! .. uhh.. YOU...

[bubblesfantasy]

This was very inspiring. And one thing I have noticed with my friend coming out as bi, you don't decide to come out, say it once, and then it's over. You have to keep coming out, over and over in different places. It's like you're never fully out of the closet. There's aways going to be people who don't know.

[fanarof]

Great story! Admirable and brave.

[twenangst]

hey derek

just quickly to say that i admire your courage and to wish you that your further journey down the "gay path" will be as filled with support as your coming out was.

G

[trirachel86]

thats cool that your frat was cool with that, i was suprised to hear that, i dont think tke at my school would be so accepting.

[kurtyslover16]

Your story is inspirational; I came out to my family and friends after watching this, so thank you. :) But I do have to say to commenters, with no offense meant: this cannot possibly be the bravest thing you've ever heard, with men and women going to Iraq, leaving there families to fight. It is a good thing when people come out, but bravest thing ever? Come on.

But thank you for sharing.

[geoxsep]

It seems that being gay...and the number of ignorantly stupid people is exponential...

more gay people...more stupid people to spout shit out of their mouths.

[backwoodsmister]

Wow. Being gay in a frat must be like a fat chick in a Chinese buffet. The hazing rituals must have been fun for you. Way to go, I love going around & telling everyone how much I like pussy, so I guess it is the same.

[Keff19]

respect to the gay people

i lovee men :D

[GeminiAmbience]

Thanks for sharing your experience. It truly is amazing to me to be able to continue to watch tolerance change to acceptance. I came out to myself when I was in the 4th grade, but not to others until my senior year of high school (1991). In just over a decade the amount of progress we can see all over the country is encouraging.

Best wishes always in all that you do. Thanks for being another person not afraid of simply being yourself.

Peace,

Jim

[casecob]

Yeah - not going to lie, I was also surprised by just how supportive my fraternity was, as well.

[kittysboo89]

your amazing, i admire you very much, all the best to you.

<3

[carezzza]

It's amazing, really. When I came out, in the seventies, I couldn't even walk down the street without being harrassed or beaten up.

[plato12000]

Courageous guy! Thanks for sharing! I wish you the best.

[shawneos]

Great job - thanks for sharing your story. You're an inspiration to many who need to hear that it's not all bad. Have a great life - you're on your way to it all.

[rjb27540]

I know its hard to come out - very good story. Thank you for sharing

[jessedrude]

Great job!!

[bilmar78]

When i came out i realized almost everyone is loving and accepting i was very suprized- sometimes we think people are filled with hate and almost always they arent

[billionbucks]

Thanks for this

[biako06]

I wish I had half your courage. I'm 4 years older than you and still haven't come out to anyone yet.

[icmp]

You're at least half-way there with a comment like that, I think ;)

[GeminiAmbience]

If you have the courage to accept yourself for who you are, that's the most important aspect of "coming out." The rest will fall into place.

Peace,

Jim

[Snark17]

Thanks!!!

[ThatIsNotMyCow]

:P Yay! Thanks for sharing your story!

[scream261]

great video :)

awesome of you. very brave and admirable :)

keep it up!

[mrscani]

great story!