Speaker 1: Okay. So to start with my story coming out story, um, I was 14 and it was the summer before going into my freshman year of high school. Um, I was pretty much in a situation where I was kind of forced to tell my mom, um, because at that time I was still young and impressionable. Um, I wasn't entirely confident or sure who I was or what I was interested in. And so I know I was lonely and I was wanting to develop some sort of relationship with someone of the same sex to see what that was like. Um, and in doing so, I realized it wasn't like an easy thing. You don't just go find another person that's so forthcoming about their sexual orientation at that age or the same types of curiosities. And so in doing so, I tried to figure out ways that I could meet someone that led me to search through media, social media online. And in doing that, I did find someone I can't remember the person's name, honestly, it's been so long and the memories I don't really care for. So I kind of blank a lot of it out. But, um, and so I start talking to this individual over time and, um, eventually, I mean, it led to, um, phone calls. We exchanged numbers. At the time, I didn't have a cell phone, um, online and gave me one, so I'd use the house phone and, uh, over time, I guess, you know, we had multiple landlines, so. And I actually don't even know how my mom came to about doing this, but, um, one day I was on the phone with this person, and no, the person was from a different state. They were from Washington, if I remember. Um, because that was kind of why it was very uncomfortable. Um, so I was having a conversation with the person, and when I ended the phone call, um, as I normally go outside when I have phone calls at my house because there's a lot of people there, my mom came outside and she said, I want to talk to you. And I was like, kind of surprised because my mom normally doesn't have like a stern, um, voice when she talks to me. She's very laid back and easygoing, and she just said something about her mannerisms felt different. And, um, so we walked down to the like, steps of our house and we sat down and she didn't say anything for a few seconds. And then she looked at me and she said, Um, are you gay? And I remember just being kind of shocked that she asked me. I mean, I kind of knew it was coming. I felt like because we never had a conversation like this, I knew something she was going to, I don't know. And I eventually said I kind of lied. I said no. And she said, Are you sure? And it's like, Yeah, I'm sure. Uh, she said, Oh, I mean, I heard your phone call and didn't sound like It doesn't sound like you are straight. And I said, Oh, well, that's, that's just a friend. And she's like, Oh, but you really like your friend. And I was like, Yeah. She's like, Oh, well, I mean, where's your friend live? And I said, Um, why? And she said, Well, because the phone log shows that there's been a lot of phone calls to Washington, and our phone bill went up because at the time we didn't have any type of like plan for or I don't know and uh, I don't know for whatever reason I said, fine. And I said, Yeah, I think I, um, I think I bisexual. Um, and uh, from there that was kind of the end of the conversation really. Um, she just my mom just said, Okay, well, um, you know, you need to stop talking to this person because, you know, it's expensive on our phone bill. Um, and that was kind of that, And I did stop talking to the person that just shared discomfort of the situation. I stopped talking to that person because I felt. Felt weird. Um, and ever since then, that was, uh, that was kind of it. I mean, we didn't talk about it after that. Um, I'm not sure she ever told my dad. I'm not sure she ever told anyone else. In fact, she's the only family member that I have actually explicitly came out to. Um, I'm sure my sisters both know. I know one of them definitely knows, but I never actually told her, so I'm sure my mom must have said something at some point, but, uh, yeah, I mean, it was a very awkward time, Um, because I feel like ever since then, my. And to this day, I don't talk about it with my mom. It's uncomfortable to me still. Um, I just don't. It's just something that's always been uncomfortable for me. Maybe it's because of how. How it all transgressed. I don't know, but, um. Yeah, um, I don't talk to her about it because it just seems uncomfortable, and I feel like my mom, when she brings it up, I feel like she tries to, I don't know, compensate of some sort. It just always comes off as very inorganic or overcompensating or it just seems just inorganic to me. So, uh, it's kind of, um, it's something that I just don't talk about with her. Um. That's all I really can think about.