It wasn't the slash goggles!
My intuition was correct! :D
I'm watching C.R.A.Z.Y.- it's about how this boy grew up in a house where his father is very anti-homosexual.  Now that the boy-Zac- is a teenager he's struggling even more with stuff.  He supposedly has a gift and his family is very catholic.  He's rejected both and is starting to subconsciously act out.  It's a foreign movie, but for all that, very intriguing. ^^


Personal Experience:
I've not really been subject to any sort of hate crime.  I mean, yeah, I was bullied in school, but none of it pertained to my sexual orientation.
I've always been the more quiet type around others, preferring to read and stay out of most people's ways.  I kept my orientation under lock and key until this past year of college where I've actually started to tell select people.

I have received some negative messages from my parents about GLBTQ, though.  I was raised in an LCMS Lutheran household.  (Heck, my father was a pastor)  But I managed to escape most of what they could tell me because- A. I'm the youngest and B. My parents were busy and I kept myself busy.  Rules tend to be less strict when parents finally get around to raising the youngest.

Aside from that, I think my parents have begun to suspect something, mostly because of my change in haircut.  I cut it very short, and for some stupid stereotypical reason it's become almost a family discussion on whether or not I'm a lesbian.
But the most negative message I got from my parents was a couple weeks ago.  My sister was jokingly asking my mother 'what's the worse I could be', saying that my cutting my hair and dying it different colors really was nothing compared to other stuff.
But my mother took it seriously and answered, "A lesbian."

I'm not quite sure how HRC's plans to help GLBTQ would help me specifically... But I have dreams that if maybe they can get it into people's minds that GLBTQ people are no different from others (aside from the obvious) then maybe it will be easier for my parents to accept me.
I know that HRC is working on strengthening the appearance of GLBTQ in religion so that the stereotype of GLBTQ being religionless and somewhat amoral can subside.

I've known a few people who were GLBTQ.  One of them I'm internet-courting/dating.  One of them is a great friend that I correspond with regularly.
But the one I'll always regret is the one that I refused to sign a petition for in 9th grade.  Because I didn't understand what was going on at the time... and I'd like to make up for it.  I'd like to say that I will never let someone else's ideals dictate my own ever again.  I've got my willpower now and let's see where it takes us, shall we?

HRC has helped me re-find my faith.  I'm hoping they can re-find my parents for me and I'm hoping that I can make up for naive mistakes.
So, to pay them back, to keep my own hopes going, and to maybe make other people's hopes come true- that is the personal reason why I am blogging for HRC this year.

As always,
Link to HRC
Link to donate.
Link to take action.
Link to volunteer.

See you in 30 minutes
~Shirhys