Biography Archive

BIOGRAPHY ARCHIVE

Kylie Layton of Australia.Hi my name is Kylie Layton and I am sixteen. Only a few people know that I'm gay, my mum and dad, a few aunts and uncles and my closest friends. They all don't care but I'm worried what my grandpearants will think. You see I've been realy sick for a long time, I've tried to commit suicide more than once, and althogh I've had these feelinsg for a few years now I don't think they'd understand.
anonymus.It's very difficult for me to be myself in the community I live in. I am a single mom with two older teens. They are aware of my sexuality, they lived through the years as I struggled to put at least one foot out the door of my self- imposed "closet". I have been in one relationship which lasted almost 3 yrs. and was ended by my partner as we both struggled to deal with our childhood abuse issues. As I grew stronger, she felt threatened and ended it. I will never get over that first love, it seems. But now, 3 yrs. later, I I am finally trying to make contact with a Lesbian community where I live; I know there must be one, and through a volun- teer job I think I have finally found a contact. It's very difficult to be a Lesbian in a heterosexual community. I never realized how hard it would be. My children have ac- cepted me, finally. My family does not know; many of my old friends do not know. My therapist helps me to accept myself. And life goes on...the sun shines every morning in my heart, as I tell myself each morning, "Good morning, Cherylou, I love you!" It helps, learning to love oneself, just as you are right here, right now. I feel as if I will be alone for the rest of my life. It is up to me to step out and try to make contacts with a Lesbian community. I am ready now - but it's kinda scary...My first lover was my friend, in a group of lesbians who were all friends. Now they are all gone, with her. Just like my 18 yr. marriage...alone. So each morning, I chant my "mantra" and start a new day.
Mireya Guerrero of Mexico.When I got Montreal I noticed my live was like I was living in a jail but when I was deported I was feeling going back into the jail again forever.I was only 2 year free.
anonymous.not a lot,got caught-up with marrage kids and all that hetro stuff. I was aware from an early age about 13 that I was a little different. I met a nurse when I was 34 and she became my lover and that was the most wonderful time of my life-so far
Christine Mower.I am a college student enrolled in Queer Theory and Film. I am making a presentation on Barbara Hammer this week, and find her work utterly fascinating, different from anything I have ever experienced. I am not a lesbian, but both Hammer's work and this class have really opened my eyes to issues lesbians face.
anonymous.I'm a 16-year-old lesbian. I've known since I was 14. I've always had crushes on older girls. Let's see... I've had big crushes on actresses and singers, seniors (including my best friend's sister), but especially teachers. Right now I have a huge crush on 2 of my teachers... they're so beautiful and perfect. I love going to school just to see them. So far I'm out to my mom, dad, and psychiatrist.
anonymous.Since as far back as I can remember I have always been different. I grew up in a small town on the coast of northern California called Half Moon Bay. I grew up thinking that I would never meet another girl like me. I was teased and fucked with until made myself huge with weight training. I grew up passing and loved every minute of it. It was a game to me. Although at times hard, the womens bathroom mainly, I began to live in two worlds. Outside my life with my friends I was a man, even if I never really wanted to be one. I worked construction for 13 years, most times I was the only woman on the entire job site, the only one out of 200 plus guys. I proved myself daily to all who cared to challenge me. I was deemed hercules. Stronger and smarter than most men on my crew I was quickly promoted to foreman. During the time I worked construction I was the classic blue collar butch. Even though in my head were dreams of exotic cars, beautiful houses, and foreign travel, I retained the image to a T. White T-Shirts, work boots with the steel toes showing through, big monster chevy 4x4 and all the attitude I could muster I left my mark in San Francisco's dyke scene. Always looking for opportunitys to be seen by all who were interested, I sought to be filmed and photographed. My feelings were simple. I wanted the world to see me. Fast forward 7 years. Working as a Senior Systems Engineer for a large IT corporation. I have left the dirt and sweat of construction life for the flouresent lights and dress slacks of the IT industry. I take with me the tattoos, scars, and memories of the blue collar life. I have throughly enjoyed the path I have traveled which has brought me here. I will continue to accel in whatever I set my mind to, never forgetting what made me who I am today.
anonymous.i'm not sure if i have anything interesting to say, but here goes.. i am 18 and in love with another girl. how did i get here? well, i suppose i came out to myself while dating a boy- he was bisexual and opened my mind a bit- that was while i was 15. from there i became the token lesbian at my high school (i was president of our gay-straight alliance, so everyone figured since i'm kinda androgynous i must be gay), so all the girls who were questioning decided to like me to see if they were gay. i got hurt quite a bit that way, since they all decided to date boys instead. then, my senior year, a lovely girl won my heart. the neat thing? i won hers too.
"Texas Tomboy" - photo album

Betsy Rivers from Minneapolis. My contribution would be my intensity. When I came out to Amy, my mother, the second time I was attempting to prove to her that it was not a phase. She said, after a lengthy pregnant pause, "Whatever you are you better be damn good at it!" I could think of the usual response -- Yes Mother, and I tried to be the best lesbian I could. I didn't have any role models that I really knew of personally. I had never heard the term "separatist" before. I did not want to give up my relationship with my two brothers. The way I figured it, they couldn't help being born male anymore than I could help being born the way I was as a bouncing baby lesbian.
"Biker Chick/Bikini Girl" - Part 1 , Part 2 , Part 3 - photo collages
Betsy Rivers. I am a black woman, an African-American if that term is correct at this moment. I was born and raised in Los Angeles and migrated to the Midwest. Heaven forbid I live my entire life without experiencing five foot snowdrifts. I attended Catholic school from 5th grade through college. And I bet some fundamentalists believe I love God more than SHE loves me. I don't know but I'm searching for that connection to God or Goddess or GodUs. It always feels as though I'm about to find out or remember the connection, the fusing point, the reason I am here, but it seems to all come down to Love. I know it sounds like a fairy tale response but it's real to me. When I feel in love that's what I think God/Goddess/GodUs feels like. To be in that bliss for extended periods of time is what I most desire. Of course, a girlfriend couldn't hurt. So, any opinions out there?
Curtis Radcliff & Nancy Duff - photo
"still here." My grandma died yesterday. Thursday is the funeral. I look a lot different than I did when I left that town. I can't hide anymore. I KNOW THEY'LL TALK ABOUT ME. THE PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T SEEN ME IN A WHILE. Maybe it wouldn't be "that bad" if there were just rumors that I was "that way". It's far beyond that now. I'm a buzz cut, tie wearin Dyke. I know I'm there for me and out of respect for my grama but... It's still hard.
Elaine & Susie. We have been together 11 years this coming July. We have 2 children and a wonderful grandaughter. We own our home on an acre and a half of land in Pasco County, Fl. I am a school bus driver and Susie is a full time grandmother at the moment. Our granddaughter lives with us. We enjoy camping, travelling, reading, woodworking, astrology and metaphysics. We are out in our community to those who know and love us and anyone else who cares to know. We are not in the closet.
Kat (Jamaica). Hi. I'm 19 years old and this is like my first time really using the net. I'm glad that I can express myself this way because in my country there isn't much tolerance for people who are gay. Most people are in the closet. I'm lucky to have friends who know who and what I am and still remain my friends. I won't say I have a girl friend. I do have a friend and we get together, but lately we haven't been together all that much lately. It's not that I'm bored with her. It's just that I can do such wonderful things to her and because my body is weird, she knows she may not get the same response from me the way I get response from her. I wish it was easy for me to fnd a love interest in my country. It really isn't easy being a lesbian and not having a love interest. Sometimes friends aren't just enough anymore and you need someone you can relate to. I'm glad I could leave my mark here and this is really a cool way to express oneself.
Hayley (Maine, US). There is this beautiful girl in my freshmen class. We have been through a lot of things together during this school year. I am only fourteen, and she is 15. She is so popular in school. Probably because she's so beautiful. She dosen't know that I like her alot, but I pray that she could feel the same way about me. Some of the things she does to me or some of the things she says to me makes me wonder if she likes me. We started to get to know each other better when we were on the basketball team. I didn't feel uncomfortable around her any more. She liked me for whoI really was. She showed me respect unlike some of her friends do. We were also in alot of classes together. I only have four classes in high school and she was in three of them including my lunch. Then basketball season ended and it was the end of the semester and we had to change classes. I thought we would not see each other as much as we used to. But she is now in my first block class and my fourth. None of her real good friends are in her first block class so the only person she can really talk to is me. We are still good friends and talk to each other alot. I hope we can become closer friends or maybe more someday. I would describe her but how can you describe somebody who is perfect in every way.
KaKiLee. It's amazing how your life changes, especially for the best, when you truly know what you want out of life. It was not until I was 28 years old when I silently admitted that I loved and wanted to be with women. It wasn't until I was 29 when I openly admitted to someone that I wanted to be with women. Now that I am 30, I am on my next journey. It will, hopefully, take me to the level of true openess, to my family and friends. Linda M. Ervin
Linda M. E. Born in Nova Scotia, have lived in Vancovur, BC for twenty one years. I have passion for social justice, human rights. Founding memeber of Affirm which is the support group for gays and lesbians in the United Church of Canada. I am a minister with the United Church and work at community development within the congregation. I love dancing and enjoy meeting new people. I have done a fair amount of travel over the years especially to do work in Human Rights and peace making. On April 27, 1997 my congregation became the first congregation in BC to become an Arrirming Congregation meaning that we would not discriminate against lesbains, gays, bisexuals, transgendered.
Teresa B. Where do I start!!! I am the onlly child of a single parent. For most of my life I had thought that maybe I was just different from my mother. However, when I was 18, I met a women who would show me that I was different in my community. I am from Australia, I am an Aboriginal women, and I am a lesbian. For most of my teenage years I hid my sexuality in sports. Until I met Sue, she loved me and I wanted her. It was not until my 21st birthday that we actually got together. It also on my 21st birthday that I was caught by my mother. 6 months later I was living in another city, feeling sorry for myself, but at least I was free. Free my mother and from my small town. I am now living with a wonderful women, we have been together for just over a year, I don't see my life without her. My partner and went home to see if we all could get on together. We couldn't. However, we are very happy.
C.C.M. (Sweden) Born as a Femme 1970, treated to be androgyn or more likely to be rid of 'my' genders weaknesses. Well, they say that it is easy to grow up as a femme, I don't agree. My ma was/is a feminist, she spended hours to make me build towers out of 'bricks'. It didn't work, I refused and continued to build cirkels ( as girls are supposed to). I loved my blue velvet dress with lace on, trausers where ok if it was flowers or some outher pattern on them. My dad told me about the only time when I truly made him sad and dissapointed. I was 5 years old and my dream was a red doll carriage... Reading LouAnn Loulan's book about Butch/femme is probably one of the best things I ever has done. It is good for the history of that time, it makes everything so clear. All my parents wanted was me to be happy without any thougths about what a woman should be like, they wanted me to be a individual. After long talks with a Butch friend of mine ( she planted that book in my hands) I'm more secure in my self. More and more of my true self is coming up now when I'm no longer ashamed of my nature, my 'femininity'. Why is it untill this day not 'good' to be Femme ? It has nothing to do with feminine hetrosexual women, it is something you are born with. There is nothing you can do about it, it is a part of the lesbian culture. Butch/ Femme are supposed to be seen from a womans weu, not in colored glasses borrowed from the masculine world. Be proud of all parts of aouer sociaty, be there for each outher and we will be so strong, happy and gay.
Lisa M. I am the mother of two daughters, 8 & 10 years old, who I have fought for desperately. Their father took them legally away from me four and a half years ago, with my sexuality as his weapon. On July 10, 1997, I regained custody of my daughters by changing the venue of the court (he had it placed in a VERY conservative court), and by proving beyond any doubt that I am a capable and loving parent first and foremost.
I lost my partner in January, due to the fact that she couldn't handle not being first in my life anymore. She has no children of her own, and I truly thought this was something she wanted as much as I did. I was very wrong. I came home from my part-time job to find that half of our home was missing. Within one month, with the help of my very close friends, counselors, and family, I was able to pull all the material items she had taken back together. The mental challenge has been being alone, and learning to accept myself as a lovable, and loving person. I have surprised myself, and have been commended by my peers as quite the survivor. I now have a full time job, take care of my girls on my own with no child support, and have found out that being alone is not such a bad thing. Very scary at first, but very enlightening at the same time.
Every day, I make sure that I find one good thing that happened, and thank God for that good thing. Some days are harder than others, but the strength I have gained provides me with a new arena of life to play in. So ladies, let it be known - if you take the emotion out of your life, you are just surviving - when you put the emotion and the color back into your life, you are living...
J.J.M. (CA) I'm a middleage/old Dyke. An artist. Born in 1949, I've known I was a dyke and an artist all my life. Afraid of it for the first 20 years, I was hidden and drank and drugged my way to accepting myself. In my mid 30s I got clean and sober and now live my life fully awake. Some of my contributions have been: a Lesbian community gallery in San Diego in early 80s; showed my assemblage and pen and ink drawings in several exhibits in that time and locale; published drawings and stories in gay rags in the 70s and 80s; published Feminist Clip art books in the 80s; travelled to and suported the Big Mountain peoples and struggle in '82; owned and operated a graphic studio in Oakland since '84. I've also been arrested at Lawrence Livermore Labs for protesting their destructive work, helped to found SOLAR in Santa Rosa, and been a member of anti-war organizations since 1968. I work out of my home now, a printing press in my basement. I still do graphic art and have discovered many truths about myself and the world. The biggest being that if there is no change, there is death. Only life supports change. It's just the way it is.
DONITA SPARKS FAN! (Ellen). Hi I`m a 17 years old Norwegian girl. I am lesbian and I think that is cool. I noticed when I was about 14 years old. I fell in love with one of my teachers. I still have a thing for her, but she doesn`t know. She is straight and is married. I told my parents that I am lesbian some months ago, my dad think it`s ok, but my mom got hysterical. I am playing the drums in a hard-rock band, and I made a song to her that is called hysteric mom. I write all the lyrics for the band and I express my feelings through them, and it works. And I have to tell you that I have the worlds greatest friends. They are all straight but respect me for what and who I am and have helped me through the tuff times. And I wanna say that being lesbian is really cool and it "rocks".
Randi Zeman. I first discovered that i was a lesbian when i was in sixth grade. That was the day that i walked in on the 8th grade cheerleading team in one of their try ons (when they get undressed and try on their uniforms) It was the best day of my young life. Seeing all of their naked bodies was the last requirement for me to make my final decision. I was a lesbian.
anonymous. 24 years old, and I finally found my way home. I guess all stories are different to some degree, and yet not 3 years later, I see many other women just like I was then. 3 years not too long, but seems like a life time away. Great job, loving husband, 1 daughter, 2 dogs, 2 cars in suburban Chicago, and yet I was so empty, so alone, and so fake to all around me. And as some may say... then I met this woman. She was amazing and I wanted her so badly. So it finally happened, we made love right there on my office floor one night, the first thing that went through my mind after she kissed me was, my life as I knew it is over, and it was. And now looking back I am so happy that day finally came, I opened my mind, body and soul that day, no longer pretending to be someone I was not, no longer being the perfect wife, no longer being unhappy. I pulled myself together to become real and happy. My daughter now sees a mom who is loving, happy, and most of all real. I realized that the light at the end of the tunnel really was something that I look to to make it through to the next day. But now I realize that the light at the end of the tunnel really is inside of myself there to guide me along the way! I just needed to nurture and nurish it so it could shine brightly to guide me along my journey. Now, I am with a wonderful woman whom I love very much, and whom my daughter loves very much also.
sugarmegs. I knew from the time I was little taking baths with my baby sister that I was "different". While the others in my high school dredded going to school with people of the same sexual orientation, I was in heaven. Just being near these people in their plaid jumpsuits when me feel all tingly inside. I've yet to come out with my hidden passions for fear of acceptance. However, someday soon I know I will cum clean.
Nancy L Ross. Relationships--At 46, I've had far more than I ever intended although some I wouldn't have missed for the world. I met my new spouse on the internet (this still amazes me, because I was already involved and even if I hadn't been, I would have never in a million yrs thought THAT would have happened!). We've been together for 7 mos now and I sincerely hope and believe this one will be THE ONE! I wish the same to all of you that just want to find that one special person (yes, I'm a Streisand fan) regardless of where you find her!
Pey Roan. In this male-dominated world, as an Asian woman, I dare to say "I am a fucking goddamn feminist!!" I make video pieces to express my attitude, I am trying to make sense of my being. I am an independent filmmaker-to-be. I love the intimacy that the way only video/film can share. Even I am not living in the global village, the big apple New York. I yearn to make more friends who can share my point of view.....
Babs. I spent years trying to be a 'good girl' and live my mother's life. This included getting married and having two children. During that entire time, I was in a constant state of despair. My life changed completely in a night I will never forget. I actually allowed myself to do what I had dreamed of for years, actually be with a woman. The experience was like coming home to myself for it the first time in my life. For in sharing myself with her, I found myself. I was myself. Now being touched by a woman seems to me the most sensible way to live and I wonder who I was all those other years.
Nana. I turn fifty this year. I'm a grandmother and have a sporty new red car. I've wanted both the grandchild and the car for years. I've known I was a lesbian since childhood, but couldn't reconsile myself to it. To please my parents I married and had children. No regrets though. Having the children has been wonderful. The first time I heard the word "lesbian" was at Girl Scout Round Up in Idaho in the 1960s. Being a sheltered little country girl I asked the girls who used the word (they were from Long Island) what it meant. I had to turn away when they told me because I knew that I was one of "those kind of people" that they were riduculing. Nothing has been easy since I came out in the 1970s, but coming out was right. I worked a variety of odd jobs to survive for many years. I spent six years re-educating myself only to be tormented on my first job as a reporter. I am now unemployed and cannot get a good reference from my former employer, even though I did an excellent job, because I am a lesbian. What can I do now? When life gives you scraps, make a quilt. I'm writing and surviving...the two things I do best.

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