My Brother Is Gay

   I found out last year that my brother is gay.

I think my brother always liked me best of my other siblings. He let me tag along with him to Boston, even to New York once. When he was broke around the holidays, he still managed to give me a gift. We have always had a special closeness. We could really talk to each other.

When I found out he was gay, it didn't change my feelings about him at all. Just because he isn't what most people would consider normal, why should I love him any less?

My brother being gay doesn't bother me. What annoys me is when people joke about gays. I'm sorry to say my friends are guilty of this. They don't know my brother is gay, so they don't realize they're hurting me when they make fun of homosexuals. Even my boyfriend, who I always thought was so unprejudiced, teases gays. One of my teachers once said, "Teenage boys make fun of gays because they are beginning to recognize their own sexuality." I hope this is true. It would be terrible to think that we were is going to grow up to be biased leaders.

Please think about my story the next time you are tempted to joke about gays. They are not bad people because of their sexual preference. If someone close to you were gay, would you disown him? I certainly hope you answering "yes" to either of these questions. Remember, we are all made equal and homosexuals are no exception to this rule. n