In the last 24 hours, I feel as if I have lost everything I love. I have always lived a quite life but last night my parents discovered my homosexuality, kicked me out my home and did not even give me the chance to get a few things that would remind me of my childhood, or even a simple change of clothes. My parents called every single friend that I had and outted me and now they all have rejected me. I am so scared and I don’t know what to do. I can’t even handle picking up the phone. I am so scared and I don’t know what to do. Our public library closes in an hour and I know I can live out of my car for a while but I don’t know…I’m so scared and lost and have no where to go. Please...please...help.
Signed,
Chris, 20, Rapid city SD

What an awful thing to have happened to you! It is perhaps the greatest tragedy for a young gay person to have his or her parents, the people who are supposed to love us the most, treat them as if they were degenerate criminals simply because of sexual orientation. It is as if you stopped being the person they loved yesterday now that they know you are gay!

Without knowing more about your situation (Are you in school? Are you working? Is there absolutely no one else — family or friend — who might be understanding?), it’s difficult to offer specific recommendations to you. That’s why, even if picking up a phone is difficult for you right now, I STRONGLY encourage you to call our helpline at1-866-4-U-TREVOR (866-488-7386), not only in order to speak with someone who is understanding and not condemning, but also to find out what resources may be available to you in your community. In fact, I believe there is a place called the Black Hills Gay & Lesbian Youth Support Resource Center (605-343-4872 or www.bhgayyouth.org) in Rapid City where you can get support in many ways including temporary housing. Also, you might check out the local chapter of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) by visiting www.PFLAG.org. There IS help out there and you CAN survive this terrible experience, Chris. Please utilize these resources and give our helpline a call.