I did not write this I hope that is ok. It was posted to our forum, I will not post any info about the writer unless he approves.
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Thought this might be inspiring to some of you... It's the speech I
delievered to my highschool about a month before graduation.

Senior Speech

Three years ago this month I came to a realization about my life. It
took me a while and I fought a lot of demons. I now travel a
different road, and since then I've never looked back. I don't
regret the things I have done. I may ponder the "what ifs" and
the "maybes", but I'm not ashamed. Without such cases, such
experiences, there is no growth; and what is life without growth?
So quite a few of you sitting here today know exactly what I'm
talking about. Some of you probably have a pretty good idea, and are
whispering about it to your neighbor. I suspect the rest of you are
sitting here totally clueless thinking, "Who's this kid again?"
Well, the day of reckoning is finally here. All your suspicions will
be confirmed. All the rumors will be settled, and what better time
to bring them to the surface. From the moment I heard my first
senior speech, I knew this was exactly what I was going to say.
I'm gay.
Look, the sky hasn't fallen. The earth hasn't split open and
swallowed me whole. Surprising for some, maybe less so for others.
Yet I remain, and so do you. This community hasn't crumbled and no
one has run out the building screaming. We stand strong.
For those of you who may think that my cheery disposition means that
being gay is all sunshine and rainbows, think again my friends. At
my old school, it was impossible to walk the halls by myself for
fear of having the living daylights beaten out of me. The girl I had
dated for nearly five years prior - my best friend, and a handful of
other individuals from my art club were my comrades. They stuck by
my side day in, day out. While I was fending off disgusted glares
and whispered rumors behind every corner, my younger sister (who was
in the 4th grade at the time) was being chased around the playground
being bombarded with tennis balls just for being related to me. She
came home crying with no earthly idea as to what was happening. For
her sake, show a little respect.
Luckily, I happened to be inquiring about boarding schools around
the same time, and Christchurch dropped in my lap as though it fell
from heaven. A perfect opportunity to start over. A blank slate. A
clean page. Once here, I blended in quite nicely. I made friends
easily and I loved the change of scenery. Now three years later, the
bell tower looms just ahead. Graduation is one month away, and I'm
fighting the current, denying the fact that I too must leave behind
my new home.
Now, the sappy `Christchurch made me who I am today' cliché
that we've all heard before hangs in the air. No, Christchurch
didn't turn me gay. Wouldn't THAT look great in the admissions
magazine? This place has granted me the freedom to express myself
without having to keep looking over my shoulder. Christchurch has
been so accepting, and if anything were to happen to me or any other
student, I know as much as the next person, that this school won't
sit idly by.
Being gay doesn't define all of who I am. There's so much
more. I'm a dreamer, bless you Ms. Wood. An actor, hats off to Mrs.
Michelsen, Mr. Selby, and Ms. Tucker. A sailor, aye aye Cap'n Shore.
An artist, thanks Mr. Roebuck. A writer, snaps for Mr. Martin. An
admitted bad-chess player, but I swear Mr. Lesley, that bishop was a
pawn. A prefect, suffering the wrath of Mr. Michelsen and weekend
duties. I am an extended member of the crew team and served as a
pseudo-husband to Ms Alana Bigg. A book worm. A movie-goer. A
brother, a `sista', a son, and a friend. Someone even told me that
I'm their "life's little air freshener." And of course, the list
goes on.
I'm aware that my sexuality may make some of you
uncomfortable. I respect that. But this speech isn't about rubbing
that in your face. I'm not standing here demanding Gay-Rights, or
insisting on the downfall of the Breeders. This speech is simply
telling you to be yourself. And in being yourself, accept and
respect others for pursuing the same goal. As you travel down your
own roads, follow your hearts, and take whichever turns you desire.
To quote one of the derogatory gay icons of our time… Madonna once
sang, "Never forget who you are, little star / Never forget how to
dream, butterfly." Thank you.