Don't fall in love with potential.
Know that you are a person who is deserving of giving and receiving love.
Don't fall for straight women. Oh wait, I guess that only applies if you are a gay woman.
As a lesbian, I have also had to deal with hiding my love and to learn to reconcile my feelings for women within a society that disapproves and refuses to acknowledge any kind of love but heterosexual. All of us, gay, straight, or somewhere in between, have had to live with secrets. We have had to put our hearts up against societal norms.
It's time to "come out" with our stories and see that we all hurt at times, no matter who we love.
Darren Maddox: As much as we sometimes hate to admit it, our gut never lies. We may seek the advice of others, but deep down, we know who we are and what we truly need to make us happy. Sometimes we just need reminders or justification from others.
I didn’t come out until I was thirty and I’m not one of those gays who believe in only having gay friends. I have tons of friends on both sides of the fence. And I’ve held more jobs than the number of years I’ve been alive where I’ve met all walks of life. My experiences have provided me with the realization that we all have similar dating challenges and can learn from each other’s life experiences. I believe dating should be fun, exciting, and something to look forward to. If it isn’t, then you’re clearly seeing the wrong person. Move on. Life is short. The pain of leaving may be hard, but the pain of staying will be harder.
Chris Kennedy: I went on my first date in the fourth grade-to a roller rink. Like most of my relationships it started well—we held hands and skated along nicely, but somehow I slipped and ended up flat on my back with my wheels spinning.
My wheels continue to spin as I ponder the endless depths of human relationships. There's nothing in the world as interesting to me as the interactions between people, especially those who are attracted to one another.
PREVIOUS PAGE
