Who said straight guys can’t be an asset?
I realize that there are a lot of gay people out there that have had more unpleasant experiences than I ever did and are living harder lives. That is a given. But I would like to bring my contribution to the community and break some stereotypes along the way.
I am Mark, 27 years old and I have been through a tough period of my life recently. I have always been a sociable person, with a lot of friends, both online and in the real world. But none of them knew I was gay up until recently.
It just felt awkward for me to tell them. I didn’t do it in the first phases, so I grew to become inhibited along the way and thought I should just keep it to myself. I wasn’t sure how they were going to react. I assume I feared the prospect of them rejecting or ridicule me.
But then I fell in love
You always know it is a bad thing to fall in love, as a gay guy, in an entourage composed out of straight guys only. But it happened nonetheless and there was nothing I could do. It is not like you can control your feelings. So, I fell in love with one of my straight buddies, Chad.
As you may suspect, there was no way for me to reveal myself to him. I knew he was straight, no doubt about it, and I didn’t know how he would react if he were to find out, even if we knew each other for years. Knowing that one of your best friends has fallen in love with you is always a shocker, no matter whether you are opposed sexes or not.
Several months passed, with me trying to figure out what to do with my life and then lightning struck me one day. Metaphorically speaking…
“Fag Mark, I introduce you fag Roy”
This is literally what Chad told me one day, while introducing me to one of his long-time acquaintances I hadn’t had the opportunity in meeting yet. I was left jaw-dropping, not because of the way he addressed me, because I knew he was joking, but by the fact that he knew the truth about me, somehow, and that he seemed to take it so lightly. It warmed my heart instantly.
Needless to say, I quickly grew fond of Roy and, since then, my relationship with Mark further strengthened. I am definitely grateful to him remaining the same guy I always knew and not being influenced by finding out the truth about me.
A truth he has known for a long time, if I am to trust his words and I have no reason not to. He later told me that he did not say anything, because he didn’t know how to approach he subject. But that he was having a blast observing me hiding under the appearances.
I still love the guy, but in a more friendly way now. I appreciate his help, because without it I wouldn’t have been able to conquer my fears and embrace who I really am. I have realized that nothing can replace a good friend and I finally realized how fortunate I am to have someone like him by my side.
