2) The Confrontation: Bailey

"Dad, are you homophobic?" Bailey asked as the car sped down the N1.

"No, I just think that gays are disgusting and unnatural and that they should not be allowed to integrate with normal society."

Bailey shuddered at this answer. She did not understand how anyone could hate someone for being who they were. Did he not know that it was not a choice? Did he not know that it was a preference, not a difference?

In fact, Bailey knew that there were several differences in homosexual brains, that separated them from heterosexual brains. Did this not prove that being gay was indeed not a choice, and something that was already decided during neonatal and foetal development?

"You do know that what you just said is actually the definition of being homophobic, which would mean that you are homophobic."

"Stop it, Bailey, you cannot speak to me like that! You ought to be more respectful to me." Replied her father defensively.

But Bailey had not said it disrespectfully, she had simply interjected her opinion and stated the obvious. Surely everybody had a right to state their opinion as long as it was done respectfully?

Bailey wished she could have said more to her father, but Dad was in one of his bad moods again and it would be ignorant to rile him up, so she said nothing. Besides, she knew better than to accuse her father of anything. He always flat out denied it or got very defensive. The end result was always the same -a grumpy, sulky Dad for the rest of the day, and that was always unpleasant for everyone.

She wished desperately she was a stronger person though. She wished she could stand-up to her father and the rest of her homophobic family.

It was really painful to continuously hear anti-gay comments, when she identified as gay, herself. Of course nobody knew that she was gay though. She had not told anyone yet. She was far too afraid of what they might do to her if they did know her sexual identity.

For all she knew, her family could throw her out of the house, or never speak to her again. It made her feel panicked to think of what they might do if they knew that she was a gay.

Of course, she did plan on eventually telling her family, but for now, she preferred to be closeted. It was safer, and it kept the already unstable peace in her household.

The rest of the journey home was completed in silence.

Bailey did not bother saying anything. She was angry, angry with her father for hating the LGBTQ+ community. What had they done wrong! She had been gay all her life, she had just been unaware of it. How could someone's opinion change of her when this is who she had always been!

Homophobic people made her blood boil. Did they not know that the LGBTQ+ community were made up of perfectly normal people, who were simply attracted to different people or the same gender? It was like a guy who only liked girls with blond hair, nobody hated them just because they preferred blonds, so why should they hate her just because she was attracted to other girls! It was so irrational and unreasonable! It was a preference, not a major difference!

Perhaps, it was only a lack of education though. Maybe, if people were taught from a young age about what being gay means instead of being educated on hating those who did not have the same sexual identity as them, they would be more accepting. After all, this belief of gays not deserving equal rights was primitive!

But Bailey knew people were afraid that if their children were educated on sexual identity, they would not identify as straight. People believed that their children would turn into some horrifying monster that was part of the LGBTQ+ community. It was all a misconception though! Children get taught about wars and buying hundreds of apples in school, but there are very few people start wars or buy excessive amounts of fruit just because they learned that in school!

For centuries, gays had been called witches, hanged, burned at stakes and tortured with an unimaginable amount of cruelty and hatred. Now, it was time for gays to rise and show the world that they were as equal and normal as the rest of society. To show the world that they deserved to be equal in society and live a life free from prejudice and discrimination.

As it often happened, Bailey had a sudden urge to write poetry. She took her leather bound notebook out of her bag and became immersed in her writing.

She never felt like she was the one writing the poetry, it was as if her hand just scribbled the letters out perfectly, whilst her brain listened idly. It was like a magnificent world that she entered into, and she became completely silent and engrossed in the poem as it formed its body and became real. It was utterly magical.

We will rise

Bisexuality,

It's simple don't you see?

Why are you not accepting?

I though you said that you loved me?

It's not an illness

It's not a disease

Can't you just listen,

Please!

In the past we were the outcasts

Hanged, Burned and tortured

Deprived of the love we so desired,

Our feelings were just not important

But now we rise against you,

Homophobia cannot rule the world

The only difference between us,

Is that I like boys and girls!

Bailey had a talent for poetry, it was in the blood that flowed through her veins. Her great grandfather had been a brilliant poet, the kind whose poems sent shivers of satisfaction down one's spine. Bailey aspired to write like him someday, and although her family seemed highly impressed by her literature, she was still unsatisfied by it.

Dad was quiet on the drive home too, but Bailey knew that it was not because he was thinking of their conversation, like she was.

Mom and Dad had been fighting a lot lately and Bailey knew that Dad was worried about their relationship and to be honest, Bailey was too.

She dreaded the idea of her parents getting a divorce. She had heard horror stories about custody and court hearings. The idea made her anxious, so she tried not to think about it as much as possible.

"That is another problem." Bailey thought to herself. If she came out to her family now, the stress could end her parents relationship, especially since Mom supported the LGBTQ+ community and Dad did not.

That did not seem fair though. The fact that her sexuality could affect other people so much was wrong. It should not have been like that, but it unfortunately was.

It was actually Mom who had put the idea that she was gay into her head. Not that Mom had caused Bailey to be gay, but more that she had helped Bailey to discover who she was.

Mom had said that she did not mind if either of her children married anyone, even if it was someone of the same gender. She said that she just wanted her children to be happy.

She was not speaking directly to Bailey, but William was six years old and Bailey doubted that he understood what sexuality was. Not that six years old was too young to know your sexuality though, Bailey knew a couple of people who had known from that tender age already.

At first, the statement had made Bailey feel angry because Mom was basically calling her gay or suggesting it at least, but then she had thought and thought a little more…

That was almost a year ago. Bailey had pretty much accepted her fate now. She just felt a little bit worried about breaking the news to her big, homophobic family. She was almost certain that they would disown her.

Why was it so hard for the Lgbtq+ community? Could we not just bring home our partner and say, "Hey, this is the person that I have chosen to give my love to." and then be treated as well or as normally as if she brought home a person who would be classified as "normal" or "natural" in this judgemental society?

Dad was already pointing out good looking guys and introducing her to his friend's "marvellous son". She supposed that it was not his fault though, because he did not know that she was gay yet, but it was still upsetting that he just assumed that she liked males.

Bailey just hoped that her family would accept her when she eventually decided to come out.