Southern hospitality.

Growing up in the southern United States is interesting.

Being a liberal means you are a minority. And being an open homosexual means that you are a minority's minority.

Too often in the South, people are forced to remain closeted, whether for religious, social, or sadly enough, familial reasons.

One of my dear, dear friends is forced to be closeted with his family due to his family's conservative and religious beliefs. He has been in a room with his parents when they have made disparaging comments about gay men. His parents don't know what they're even saying to their son, because he's too afraid to tell them about who he really is. He doesn't even like visiting with them because of the things that they say.

Now, there are a lot of things that are depressing to me about his parents. For example, he didn't read the Harry Potter books until he was 23 because he wasn't allowed to read the devil books. But the fact that his parents are missing out on a relationship with their son because of their inability to accept homosexuals makes me so depressed that I have to eat my feelings. Their son is one of the best people I know. He is loving and loyal and caring and honest and funny and one of my favorite people in the whole world. It makes me sad to think that his parents are crazy and are missing out on knowing such a wonderful person.