"Be Free", an open letter by Laklan
Photo credit: Mary Ferraro
When I was young, I was always that kid who would sing with a fork, dance around the house and make up songs while playing in the backyard. I was homeschooled until 5th grade and up until that point, I never questioned myself and I didn’t think others had a reason to question me either.
From then on while attending public school, I would constantly be bullied and made fun of for being gay, even before I came out. I was being called gay before I even knew what being gay was. Throughout my life, I have moved around a lot. I have attended two middle schools and three high schools, and all of my experiences with my peers and bullying were the same. I couldn’t help but wonder if something was wrong with me or if I should act a different way just so I could survive.
In order to mentally escape from my current reality, I would think about my future self and what he would be like. In middle school, I would write short stories and concepts that I thought were cool. In high school, the stories turned into poetry and the poetry then morphed into songwriting. I didn’t take songwriting seriously until I was a Junior in high school. I found a sense of power within myself because of it and it made me more confident. It drew me closer to the image I had envisioned of my future self, and that image was somebody who was creative, loving and free.
To become that person authentically, I knew I had to face my fears and start with myself.
I decided to come out when I was 16 and the experience was a bit rocky with some family members. But I am here to tell you, (not to sound cliché) that it does get better. Coming out may shock some close loved ones, but as time goes on, if they’re willing to accept, they become more educated on the lifestyle and what it means to be LGBTQ+. Being LGBTQ doesn’t make you who you are. In my opinion, your preferred sexuality doesn’t define you. It’s what’s in your heart and how you treat others that matters.
I have never been happier with myself than when I decided to start living my life for me. When you choose yourself, the right people will come into your life. Just think of your former high school-self looking at you now! They would be so shocked and happy.
As a society, we still have a lot of work to do when it comes to equality. However, I see that more people are open minded and accepting than they were 10 years ago. We have the power to make a better future and to change people’s minds by just being our authentic selves and being the best we can be. If you walk into a room with loving and free energy, it can give somebody else the permission to let their guard down and be free as well.
- Laklan