The truth is, I'm okay with messing with guys but I am not okay with being judged.
Most of my life I have had to prove myself. I grew up in Kensington. You ever been up around K and A? A lot of shit goes on there. My dad was never around which made things harder on my mom. I quit school when I was 16.
Read Justin's Story
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A lot of guys think of the top as the “man”—it’s this whole macho thing. I don’t buy it.
Are you a top? What does that really mean? Who calls the shots? Who has the power in the relationship? How do you protect yourself and your partner?
Read Stephen's Story
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I’m open to broadening my horizons. I don’t cling to labels. It’s just about being open and taking care of yourself.
Ever want to try bottoming? For a lot of guys, it’s embarrassing to talk about how to do it right. Will it hurt? Will it be messy? What do I have to do beforehand? How do I do it safely?
Read James' Story
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…being positive taught me to just let it all go and become who I really am… I had to accept myself before anyone else would. Now I’m in a pretty good place.
Can’t tell you how many times I’d go to the bathhouse, “just for a couple of hours,” and come back three days later.
Read Carl's Story
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I told him I couldn’t do it that night-I was just too drunk and too sick-but he wasn’t stopping…I was trying to fight him off, but he was a strong guy and I was too weak.
This one night, I was at a club in D.C. where I was visiting. Started to drink...I think I drank 15 beers that night. Went to town. I got so drunk I couldn't see, things were blurred...
Read Jerome's Story | Download the PDF
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It was hard convincing him I was for real. I had to keep telling him, “no, it’s not that I don’t want you, it’s that I don’t want it."
Greg didn’t bring it up right away, which I understand. He’d had some really negative reactions.
Read Robert's Story | Download the PDF
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What gets to me is gay men talking about trans folks like they're not "real" men or "real" women... I'm just like them. I'm not in-between or unfinished... I'm just me.
I went on a date last night…have you ever gone on a first date with someone and you’re like hey, this could really be something? I’m not usually like that, but this guy was great.
Read Aiden's Story | Download the PDF
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Even if you’re not ready to be out to anyone else yet, just having that one friend know is a big help.
hey jeff! thanks for your email! i’m so glad erica put us in touch. totally get where you’re coming from…actually, up until the end of 9th grade i couldn’t IMAGINE coming out to anyone at school.
Read Tim's Story | Download the PDF
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I don’t want to get sick; I don’t want to die. But it seems like I can’t control myself sometimes.
When I started, Acres was pretty much the only place I knew you could go if you were under 21. Besides, it was dark. I could hide myself, I felt like…
Read Ra's Story | Download the PDF
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I'm not a repentant sinner or someone who needs help. I'm an equal.
They all held me down, one on each arm and leg. I was terrified and I was drunk. A couple times I got a hand free and tried to throw a punch, but mostly all I could do was scream. The priest was reading verses from Psalms. He was screaming at me, speaking in tongues...
Read Andrew's Story | Download the PDF
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