I think when I was younger I felt that I needed to conform to what society said I should be doing. Meeting a girl, getting married, having kids that I would force myself into dating girls, when in the end they were great people but just were not what I needed to make me happy both mentally and physically. I felt that I was not only doing myself a disservice but them as well for even wasting our time in that manner.

I have also had my fare share of haters and you have to learn how to escape those situations and move on and protect yourself from getting hurt emotionally and physically.

The Los Angeles community is one of the most diverse I have ever experienced. There are people from almost every race, nationality, and orientation. I find that growing up in the south there was not a large amount of diversity and that is I think what has kept me living here for so long. The scene in Los Angeles to me is very diverse and ever changing. If there is a certain type of guy you are interested in you will find it in Los Angeles. Being a global city definitely has it’s advantages with many people passing though or relocating here for work/ family. I feel like I did not truly find myself until I arrived in Los Angles and was able for the first time in my life to be “me”. I have now lived almost half of my life here and the community here has made me who I am today. From friends that I will have for a lifetime to the men I have dated, this city has been the best thing that has ever happened to me.

I can’t really say when I really first “came out.” I knew at a young age that I was attracted to boys and was not sure why at first but it never really scared me. I had my moments when I tried to change who I was to fit in but always knew that was not me. I remember my first year of college having a small group of gay friends that were older then me and I kept them a secret from everyone I had grown up with and my family. My sister I think had to have been the first person to approach me and ask me “Hey, you know that guy that I work with? If you are interested he told me he would like to go out sometime.” I was totally taken back as I had no idea that my sister had any idea that I would even have an interest in men. I did end up going out with him. And still, for a while I kept it from my family and friends. It was not until college ended that I had the chance to move to Los Angeles with family to take a break and thought to myself… Why not? I would give me a chance to explore the world and not have the fears of all the friends that I had grown up with. I thought it would give me a chance to make sure I could be myself with out having the repercussions of people I knew finding out.