I was trying to think of a way to express my opinions on how I feel about ” having gay fans, homophobia in the scene, coming out, etc”. I think the only way to do it properly would be to go back to my freshman year in college. No, this isn’t going to be a story about experimentation or anything like that. It’s about how I felt when I found out that a close friend of mine was gay.

I was running an online punk zine at the time and every few weeks we would put up a new poll. They were usually just goofy things I felt like asking, but on this particular occasion, I could not come up with anything I felt was worthwhile, so I asked my friend what I should put up. His response was ” What is your sexual orientation? Straight? Gay? Or Bisexual? After posting the poll, I immediately sent a link for it to several of my friends, including the one who had suggested it. When I looked at the results shortly there after, everyone had replied straight except for one. I put two and two together and asked my friend the question “Name Withheld, are you gay?” The answer, which I knew was coming, was “yes”.

Upon hearing this response I was hit by a flood of emotions, most of which were quite naïve. Can I still be friends with him? Will I become gay too? Does he find me attractive? Then it occurred to me. This is the same guy I’ve known for years. Just because he came out of the closet to his friends didn’t make him a different person. I realized that his sexuality (or anyone’s) didn’t matter and I put all my moronic pig headed worries behind me. A week later we left on a previously planned vacation together, sharing a bed for two weeks with the thought of his sexuality never crossing my mind.

That was six years ago, and in the time since then I have met many more people whose sexual orientation differs from mine. I don’t see anyone as a gay, or a lesbian, I just see people. I don’t differentiate amongst my friends, or our fans. Everyone is equally as important to me. I think that this website and these responses are very important. It shows compassion and understanding in a scene that at times can be rather close-minded.

-Brad Lipman
Even In Blackouts