Dear Friend:

My mom blames California for me being a lesbian. "Everything was fine until you moved out there." "That's right, Mom, we have mandatory lesbianism in West Hollywood. The Gay Patrol busted me, and I was given seven business days to add a significant amount of flannel to my wardrobe. ~Coley Sohn


KIKE. JESUS LOVER. MUZZIE. PECKERWOOD. NIGGER. CHINK. YANK. MICK.

FAGGOT.

Words hurt. This week i have heard the word "faggot" no less than four times. Three of those were from a very good friend of mine. Sometimes i hear homosexuals say the word faggot and that gets me really confused. Lets look at what makes the word derogatory:

In the inquisition of Europe, when witches were
being burned, among those sought out for
burning were gay people. They were required to
gather the very "bundles of sticks" (the real
meaning of the word) with which they would be
burnt. When the sticks were running
out, gay men were thrown on the fire to keep it
going for the witches. The word came to mean gay
man to force them into the closet for fear of
death.

I explained this to one of my friends and he made the statement:

"Well when my friends say it thats obviously not what there thinking."

Thats true. I'm sure people dont use the word "faggot" instead of:

" Hey you homosexual who i think should be used as firewood"

But obviously there using it rude and derogatorily. Lets face it there is no nice way to say fag. So why should we try to make excuses for why it is OK to use it? It doesn't matter why your using it. It doesn't matter if your saying it jokingly, it doesn't matter if you don't mean to be rude. You are. So knock it off. Just don't say it. Pick up a dictionary and try to educate yourself to say something else just a little bit more intelligent.

If your in a situation where someone uses the f word if its one of your good friends just simply ask them not to say it. If its someone you don't really know just walk away get out of the situation. Just walk away. People might get the message. Don't be afraid to stand up for what you believe in.

On a brighter note!

A few months ago when I realized that I would be changing my life forever and making the trek to Santa Cruz California I was talking to one of my best friends telling him my (then) current feelings about the church, my orientation and my future. I told him that i would be leaving and he told me that he thought i was leaving because being gay would be more accessible and it would be easier to find someone. Which are kind of true but it wasn't the whole reason why. He couldn't grasp how i could be so comfortable with who i was and know that Jesus loves me for who and what i am. Whenever he would say some scripture reference or church talk it didn't seem like he was trying to get me to know what he was saying it seemed like he wanted the same strength that i did to get out of the struggles he was also dealing with. He basically seemed to be condemning me to hell for who i was. I know it was all out of love and he was trying to do what he was taught the best for me.

That was like six months ago and now i am proud to say he called me today to tell me he has come out to his parents his friends family and himself. He is also hopelessly in love. I couldn't be happier for him.

Dear Friend, Thank you so much for being in my life for everything we have ever done. For celebrating new years together over an amazing video game. For you being there for me and helping me through all my hard times and tough troubles. Thank you for never giving up on me. Thank you for helping me stay religious. Thanks for just being a monumentally awesome friend to look up to. I love you friend. I

Friend, is it OK if I'm there for you now? I have been through some of the stuff your about to go through and i want to be there to help you whenever you need it. I want to be your rock so talk to me whenever you need never hesitate to call and keep staying on the right path and having such a strong foundation of love and faith.

lovingly,
Scott Zaborski

"Do not save your loving speeches
For your friends till they are dead;
Do not write them on their tombstones,
Speak them rather now instead."
- Anna Cummins