In 8th grade, I came out as bi, and I didn't get the type of reaction I had hoped for. When I came out the first person I told was my aunt. She just told me “You're just curious, it's a phase.” I didn’t even try to come out to my parents and they still don't know. I understood that most people (usually people that are older) are used to the belief that it should be a man and a woman, not a man and a man or vice versa. I remember the day one of my good friends told us he (at the time she) might not be straight. I remember the day as if it were yesterday. We and some of our other friends were sitting at the tall circle table in first period English taking some notes and doing some work. He looked at us and said, “would you guys care if I liked girls?” We all looked at each other a little confused on why he was scared to ask and said no it would not matter. Slowly he started to transition from female to male and I was so happy that he found himself. 

That's when I realized that it doesn't matter who you like. Everyone is human and should be treated equally. After he came out to us I started thinking “have I ever liked girls?” and the answer was yes, I have had crushes on girls just never really thought about it. That's when I started to realize “omg I'm bi..” I started to worry because I am catholic and this is something that technically goes against the bible and people's beliefs (even tho god created everyone equally) I thought to myself a lot that I would rather be myself than be someone I am not. 

Over this summer in around July maybe August a few girls at the park made a comment and I was not happy with it. I didn't hear completely what they were saying, but one of them had said “oh well was she an f-word?” referring to the word faggot. This made me really mad. A person's Sexuality, color, belief should not change the way you treat them. We are all humans and we should treat each other with respect. I waited until later that night to call them out. I posted on my Snapchat story knowing they would see it. I said “Just a PSA. Saying is she an f-word, still counts as calling that person a faggot. At the time I had thought that would be the best idea. But I probably should have just gone up to them and said, “hey that's not cool don't say that.” I have realized not to call people out over Snapchat because they never did say anything. If I would have confronted them in person they would have been forced to reply. They do give me dirty looks when I see them, but it doesn't bother me because I know it was the right thing to do. 

Altho it wasn't a good way to do it, I do not regret standing up to them against their words. I personally am very vocal about treating LGBTQ members equally. I used to stay quiet about this stuff. But now I stand up for others who may not be able to or are just too scared to stand up for themselves. Someone I have known for a while was also transitioning from FTM and for two years she was known as male. Recently she realized that was not who she was and that she is actually bi. So many people told her “you just wanted attention.” I told her just to be proud that she found who she TRULY wanted to be and not to listen to the hate. Becoming who you want to be is not “just a phase” it's something amazing that should be accepted.