Some Bakersfield College students talked about what it’s like to live in America as a gay or lesbian individual.
Billie Fox, a 21-year-old student at BC, has been dealing with the ups and downs of living that lifestyle. When Fox was 6 years old, he noticed that he was different.
“I was the product of a molestation case, and I have questioned my sexuality ever since. I always wondered if that hadn’t happened, would I be straight today?” said Fox.
When it came to telling his parents, Fox was a little reluctant. The first thing that his mother said was, “What makes you think that?”
Fox never personally told his father. His father was not a part of Fox’s life, so it was unnecessary to mention this. Fox’s mom was the one who told his father. The parents still have not discussed the issue of Fox’s sexual preference yet.
Fox felt that by coming out, it would have been a positive experience. However, there were times in high school where he encountered bullies.
Fox works at the Community Action Partnership of Kern’s HIV Education and Prevention program. The main thing that Fox has learned from his experience, overall, is that “sexuality is only one aspect of a person or his or her lifestyle, and me being gay is only one component of who I am.”
Myra Moranda, a 21-year-old BC student, has had a positive-yet-confusing experience involving her sexual orientation. When Moranda was 15, she was getting a better understanding of herself. One day her mother asked her if she was gay. Moranda said, “I couldn’t believe she would ask me something like that, but I did tell her the truth.”
“I was lucky enough to have a lot of people around who didn’t judge me but actually supported me.”
Gustavo Gonzales, an 18-year-old BC student, is still at the beginning stage of leading a gay lifestyle. Gonzales has not told his parents because he fears the drastic measures they may take to prevent him from living his own life.
“I can’t tell my parents I’m gay until I move out and don’t need them to take care of me anymore.”
Gonzales stated that it has been a positive experience so far because he is able to accept who he is and love himself. It did, however, affect the types of the friends that he’s hung out with.
“The main thing I’ve taken from my life lessons is that you should not judge a book by its cover. You should get to know someone first,” said Gonzales.