At Seventeen

Wow, guys . . . this just blew me away big time. You gotta see this clip from the public hearings just before Vermont passed the equal marriage bill last month. James Neiley is just 17 - the kid has got BIG balls:

James is a bigger man than most guys twice his age. He reminds me so much of myself at that age - only back then, I couldn't have imagined speaking out publicly about the torments of high school hell. It wouldn't have been allowed, anyway: nobody cared, nobody wanted to hear it - teachers, counselors, preachers, parents. Nobody.

Just shut up and suffer, faggot, you're going to burn in hell anyway: That was the message all of society put out; and I took it in, all alone. Somehow I survived. Lots of kids don't.

I'm so glad all that is finally changing now, and about damn time. Kudos to James for the bravery and courage to speak the truth with the whole world watching.