It is with great pride and admiration that I wish to introduce some members of this community to some high school classmates of mine doing some very important but barely noticed work. On this International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia, which I must sadly say I didn't realize it was until I seen rserven's great diary today, I want to bring the spotlight on growing up LGBT in Appalachia. Specificially southern Kentucky, a very rural and conservative leaning area. Growing up in areas like this has it's own unique challenges, in addition to the known risks strongly conservative areas with anti-gay attitudes can have on LGBT teens.
NPR & Storycorps have worked together to bring some of the stories of growing up gay or transgendered in Southern Kentucky, and a couple classmates of mine participated in this important project. It was first reported by the Lexington Hearld Leader, but then was picked up by the Atlantic.
...Watts was born Tammy Watts, but for the last three years he has lived as a transgendered man. And thanks to an oral history project spearheaded by the nonprofit StoryCorps, whose mission is to provide Americans of all backgrounds with the opportunity to preserve the stories of their lives for posterity, and the Kentucky Equality Federation, which is focusing on sexual orientation in rural Kentucky, Watts is about to share his tale of growing up in rural Appalachia in the hope it can help other people like him. The stories are to be preserved at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.
"I remember when I first started school and in my mind I related to myself as a little boy," he says. "When I went into first grade I'd get ready to use the bathroom the boys used and the teacher told me 'no no no -- this way'.".... (MORE)
Here is an interview with Shannon and Tyler discussing growing up gay in my community, my school even in the early 90s. They say so much that others, including myself, felt growing up gay in this part of America. All I can say is hats off to you guys for doing this...
The feelings of isolation, being alone, and the bullying that Shannon discussed witnessing is still a problem here. Below is an interview with a seventeen year old growing up gay here in eastern Kentucky....
Parts of Kentucky are coming around, even in the religious communities. A church in Louisville for example stopped issuing marriage licenses until gays & lesbians can wed, and seeing things like this and hearing the stories of growing up LGBT here being told...Those make me feel so hopeful. Hopeful that change is coming to our area in favor of greater tolerance and understanding.
Kudos to the Kentucky Equality Federation & Jordan Palmer for their work with this project and for the work they do for LGBT citizens here.