When I was a teen, I worked for a newspaper in Central Florida.

I did this feature where two people would write opposing views on a topic. We were given the topic, “Should gay people stay in the closet or be out and proud?” The other person wrote this horrendous thing about how gay people should keep their sexuality private, and I wrote (of course) that there was nothing to be ashamed of, and no one should have to be private about their sexuality. I got some positive letters, but I was so hurt when I got one telling me that obviously the other person was wrong, but I was too, because even answering the question, as if it was debatable, was giving credence to their hate.

Twenty years later, and this experience brought me right back to those same feelings of self-doubt.

Thank you for your kind words. I totally agree.