BORN GAY
THE PHOTO ABOVE WAS INSPIRED BY MY SON. BACK IN THE 6TH/7TH GRADE HE WAS BEING BULLIED AT SCHOOL BECAUSE OF HIS SEXUALITY. HE WAS TOLD BY OTHER STUDENTS THAT HE WAS GOING TO HELL AND THAT HE WAS A SINNER. DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME, HE WAS STRUGGLING WITH HIS SEXUALITY, IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT FOR HIM. HE STARTED CUTTING HIMSELF AND BECAME SUICIDAL. IT WAS A DIFFICULT TIME FOR OUR ENTIRE FAMILY, THANKFULLY, WE WERE ABLE TO GET HIM INTO AN INTENSIVE THERAPY PROGRAM, WHERE HE LEARNED TO COPE AND BUILD CONFIDENCE. AFTER 7 WEEKS IN THIS PROGRAM, HE LEARNED TO LOVE HIMSELF AND IS NOW PROUD OF WHO HE IS. IT TOOK A LONG TIME FOR HIM TO FEEL COMFORTABLE POSING FOR THIS SHOOT BECAUSE IT WAS SUCH A DIFFICULT TIME. EVENTUALLY, HE DECIDED THAT HE WANTED THE WORLD TO SEE WHAT HE STRUGGLED WITH. WE ARE SO PROUD OF HIM AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH OTHER PEOPLE ON OUR ARTIST PROJECT.