Rainbow flag (LGBT movement) LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) Pride flag (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Yes, I realize National Coming Out was a few days ago, bear with me.
When I was 14 and the internet still consisted mostly of AOL, I met DamianKane* , gay elf knight. His profile could, and probably did double as his D&D character sheet, which is why we started talking in the first place. That one conversation spawned an almost 3 year long friendship during which he taught me a basic rule of writing that has always proven true, for me at least. A manuscript is never done. A writer does reach a point where there are satisfied enough to publish it but even years down the line will probably find something they could have done better. Damian was the first person who asked to play in his D&D runs back when online gaming consisted cf typed descriptions in a private chat room and zero graphics. He was also my first openly gay friend. I say he was openly gay because he was with me, however he was in the closet to most of his family who would have ceased helping him pay for college and tossed him out on his ear if they knew. We lost touch years ago but I still think of him often because he gave me my first really lasting piece of writing advice. I hope wherever you are you feel free enough to be yourself and find the you deserve.
* Not his real name
October 19th, 2012 at 3:46 pm
wow what an interesting story. I remember AOL! lol!! And i remember how many friends I had met and thinking back, I wonder where they are today. thank you for sharing
October 19th, 2012 at 4:01 pm
Thank you so much for reading and commenting, I have actually been trying to find him for the last few months.