First, I used some of my own experiences and observations from attending a public high school. Secondly, I joined in some Internet chat rooms for gays and lesbians.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
When I was in high school I got involved in the fringe theater scene in Chicago, and I met some openly gay people. I could see that it got better, that they were happy and loved and supported. I saw with my own eyes that it got better.
Five days a week I drive from our home to the Episcopal Cathedral Center of Los Angeles where I have an office, my computer, and a wonderful sense of community - especially nurtured by the presence of several younger gay men and women who are good friends.
Through the Internet, I've developed a strong social network - something I could never do if I had to keep my choice of peers within school grounds.
For me, I have gay family members, and I have a lot of friends in the LBGT community.
I was inadvertently raised in the 'gay community.' I had straight parents, but I spent massive amounts of time at a very early age with gay, theater-hopeful thirty-somethings.
Thinking back on it, I've been in this business since I was 3, and I grew up in musical theater, so I was raised and surrounded by gay men and gay women. I was hardly around anyone straight.
I got involved when I was a graduate student at UCLA when UCLA was the first site on the net.
While it was a very interesting period in my life, I was happy to get back to more direct contact with students in the classroom and in my research projects.
Like, in high school, I was a good student and got straight As. It was very strict and you couldn't do well there unless you studied very hard, but every time there was any trouble, I was the first person they would be talking to.
I became an academic so that I could share my knowledge and experience with students.
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