I was always aware that I was different from most other boys. I was never physically fit as child, picked on even by girls when I was young. Never really fit in anywhere as a teen, became isolated, became obsessed with reading, playing guitar, drawing and watching movies (political thrillers, film noir, war movies and musicals: especially Cabaret and the Wizard of Oz). I made a few attempts at going out with girls, but I never succeeded in having a girlfriend. As I got older I was able to talk to girls on a personal level, being sensitive, I enjoyed listening to women, hearing what they have to say. I still find women attractive, physically, as well personality wise. However, I have never really been sexually attracted to women, not like the way I am toward men. Aside from being artistic and sensitive, I am not flamboyant; I speak in a deep voice and calm manner. I am also deeply religious, and incredibly moral, so for me to acknowledge being gay, made it rather hard. Because most Christians see gays as being against God’s will; I have since decided not to abandoned my faith in God, but to embrace it, because those so-called Christians do not speak for God but for their own ignorance. The reason why I decided to finally embrace my true self, and I am writing this in praise of women, is because of experience that I had volunteering at an organization that deals with violence against women. My volunteer coordinator mentioned to the group of volunteers that she was a lesbian. The way she mentioned it, and brought it up, she was not ashamed of being a lesbian. I was impressed by her, her story made me comfortable, to the point that I e-mailed her, thanking her for sharing it with me, I said to her “All my life, I have had a hard time admitting to myself that I am gay.” From then on, I have told my sister, and a close ‘girl-friend,’ in a similar fashion: both of them were more caring and compassionate than I could have hoped they would be, they both said they loved me and accepted me for who I truly am.