General Discussion

bitterross

(4,066 posts)

98. I absolutely get it. I'd be you if I were not gay.

Sun Mar 10, 2019, 05:48 PM

Mar 2019

I grew up in the South in the typical authoritarian Southern Baptist style. There are a few things that kept me from becoming one of them. I'm gay, I have an alcoholic mother and a schizophrenic brother. Among other things.

What all that means is I started questioning things at a very young age. Younger than you did. Gay boys in the South are not appreciated for their sarcastic wit and fabulous sense of style. Being an outsider at a young age prevented me from becoming a MAGAt. Questioning why God wouldn't fix me or my mother or my brother no matter how sincerely I prayed was the start.

If I were the typical straight boy, with the typical Southern family, I'd be one of them right now.

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Do you really want to know why some people are MAGAts? Read my story. [View all] MicaelS Mar 2019 OP

Amazing. Thanks for sharing that, Mike. sandensea Mar 2019 #1

What an amazing story, thanks for sharing this! redstatebluegirl Mar 2019 #2

That took courage. Nevermypresident Mar 2019 #3

Thank you Michael. It is the path that brought you here. Squinch Mar 2019 #4

Thanks for posting this MaryMagdaline Mar 2019 #5

Thank you for sharing. happybird Mar 2019 #6

Wow. I sort of get where you are coming from based on relatives chowder66 Mar 2019 #7

No it was gradual. MicaelS Mar 2019 #8

That's as good a reason as any. nt chowder66 Mar 2019 #10

"The Authoritarians," by Altemeyer was an eye-opener. Comatose Sphagetti Mar 2019 #9

I did just that. MicaelS Mar 2019 #12

You are amazing!❤❤❤❤❤ Karadeniz Mar 2019 #11

Thanks. n/t MicaelS Mar 2019 #15

thanks, and please alert as many democrats as possible on the importance of limbaugh and certainot Mar 2019 #13

Oh yes. n/t MicaelS Mar 2019 #14

That and allowing republicans to destroy The Fairness Doctrine. Haggis for Breakfast Mar 2019 #50

It wasn't only BlueMTexpat Mar 2019 #75

Hey MicaelS, thanks for sharing vlyons Mar 2019 #16

Thank you for sharing that. PoindexterOglethorpe Mar 2019 #17

Absolutely not to the first question. MicaelS Mar 2019 #19

I was afraid you'd say that, although it is exactly what I've observed over the years. PoindexterOglethorpe Mar 2019 #27

Thank you for sharing. Aristus Mar 2019 #18

I am glad I am not the only one. MicaelS Mar 2019 #21

that has shocked me too KT2000 Mar 2019 #44

Reagan was President True Blue American Mar 2019 #69

GLAD you came back! bluestarone Mar 2019 #20

Thanks. kooth Mar 2019 #22

Thank you for Sharing M. mercuryblues Mar 2019 #23

Thank you so much for sharing your story. AJT Mar 2019 #24

In my book you came from behind and ended up he winner lunatica Mar 2019 #25

Wow. Thanks for sharing that. It gives me hope that someone like you used to be pnwmom Mar 2019 #26

I had a co-worker who helped, though not the way you expect. MicaelS Mar 2019 #102

Thank you for sharing LiberalLovinLug Mar 2019 #28

No way. MicaelS Mar 2019 #54

That's sad. LiberalLovinLug Mar 2019 #55

Yes, most papers will not publish anyomous letters. MicaelS Mar 2019 #57

Send it to the NYT or the WaPo LiberalLovinLug Mar 2019 #60

I will think about it. n/t MicaelS Mar 2019 #62

Make up a name or use your middle name crazycatlady Mar 2019 #87

Thank you for your post. Tikki Mar 2019 #29

Thank you for writing this and sharing. Lunabell Mar 2019 #30

Thank you for your courage in sharing the story of your metamorphis. Although, it seems that the alwaysinasnit Mar 2019 #31

My best friend when I was pre teens Wellstone ruled Mar 2019 #32

Thank you cp Mar 2019 #33

Wow...just wow. Thank you for sharing. jrthin Mar 2019 #34

I really appreciate your post. MarvinGardens Mar 2019 #35

Congratulations on your evolution catrose Mar 2019 #36

Interesting. Good luck to you grantcart Mar 2019 #37

Thank you for sharing there is hope for change marlakay Mar 2019 #38

You sound like a good man. Maybe you always were. nolabear Mar 2019 #39

so glad you woke up and smelled the coffee. demigoddess Mar 2019 #40

Fantastic post... thanks for sharing your story. es466 Mar 2019 #41

Thank you. Blue_playwright Mar 2019 #42

Thanks for sharing your story Dixc Mar 2019 #43

Nice to read about your experiences at DU and how it turned things around for you. trickyguy Mar 2019 #45

The first decade of this century was definitely the Dean decade for our party. DFW Mar 2019 #78

thanks for posting this KT2000 Mar 2019 #46

save for later. Thanks amuse bouche Mar 2019 #47

It takes balls to take responsibility for one's own bullshit. fierywoman Mar 2019 #48

Thank you, MicaelS. raging moderate Mar 2019 #49

Thank you for the courage Ohiogal Mar 2019 #51

May the Gods and Goddesses Bless You,... magicarpet Mar 2019 #52

Thank you very, very much. MicaelS Mar 2019 #56

. magicarpet Mar 2019 #59

(( )) blm Mar 2019 #53

An extremely belated, welcome home! herding cats Mar 2019 #58

Thanks for your post. MicaelS Mar 2019 #61

You're welcome. herding cats Mar 2019 #65

Wonderful. Thanks. n/t MicaelS Mar 2019 #66

Hello from a fellow 1957'er jimlup Mar 2019 #63

Many of us are recent converts. Are at least some of us. GulfCoast66 Mar 2019 #64

My first vote was for Reagan MFM008 Mar 2019 #67

Same here Zambero Mar 2019 #68

Not me! True Blue American Mar 2019 #70

My very first vote was for a Republican, too DFW Mar 2019 #79

Thank you for your story. Very moving. GoneOffShore Mar 2019 #71

Thank you, Micael for sharing your story. It contributes to DU solidarity and learning. KY_EnviroGuy Mar 2019 #72

Wow, MicaelS - that is a stunning confessional. Thank you for opening up to us. calimary Mar 2019 #73

welcome. its easy to be seduced by the rite's messaging. kudos to you. pansypoo53219 Mar 2019 #74

Thank you so much for BlueMTexpat Mar 2019 #76

Wow! DUgosh Mar 2019 #77

Having left church is the strongest indicator of support for Trump, interestingly Recursion Mar 2019 #80

Some of us got here in what might be described as a straight line DFW Mar 2019 #81

Thank you for sharing your story Martin Eden Mar 2019 #82

Hell of a journey. tazkcmo Mar 2019 #83

You have helped convince me further that being a Democrat means randr Mar 2019 #84

Excellent post PatSeg Mar 2019 #85

I am not trying to be critical....and thank you for sharing....however mentalslavery Mar 2019 #86

You're right. MicaelS Mar 2019 #88

Cheers...love the new one...could not agree more! mentalslavery Mar 2019 #91

Thank you for sharing your story. 🍀 MLAA Mar 2019 #89

Thank you !!!! Mabel Mar 2019 #90

Thank you for sharing your story and journey Suprk Mar 2019 #92

I'm glad I read this woofless Mar 2019 #93

Thank you for your wonderful post! GreenEyedLefty Mar 2019 #94

Altemeyer should be required reading. CrispyQ Mar 2019 #95

Thank you for sharing your own story MrScorpio Mar 2019 #96

Thanks. Just keep it in mind... MicaelS Mar 2019 #99

Powerful writing. Politicub Mar 2019 #97

I absolutely get it. I'd be you if I were not gay. bitterross Mar 2019 #98

Thank you. MicaelS Mar 2019 #100

Kicketty Kickin' Faux pas Mar 2019 #101