
The New York Times spilled some ink for gay youth yesterday.
"The City" section featured a gaggle of 17-year old's city experiences, including Queens resident Zy-Tasia Gaines. Gaines, pictures with her girlfriend on Christoper Street's contentious piers, shares some of her painful and poignant memories, such as her peers' childish rationale:
There was a girl at my high school, and she would ask me really silly questions, like, “Angelina Jolie or Jennifer Anistonâ€? I’d say, “Angelina Jolie,†and she’d say, “See, only a gay person would say that.†And she goes, “Red ice cream or grape ice cream?†I’m like, “Red ice cream.†She says, “See, you’re a lesbian.â€
Gaines' parents haven't been any more supportive. Both seem to think she can "change" into a straight girl.
My father, he still thinks it’s a phase. He’s like: “I think you’re gonna have a boyfriend later on. I’m not worried about it.â€
But my grandmother’s cool with it. She says, “As long as you’re not doing pornos and doing anything crazy, getting tattoos on your forehead, I don’t care who you go out with.â€
My mom is just like, “Well, I wanted grandkids, and I wanted you to marry a boy,†and every now and then, she throws in: “I met this really nice guy on the train. Are you sure you don’t want to meet him?†And I’m like: “No, Mom. I have a girlfriend.â€
Though she says she's [teenage] love with her lady, Gaines does get bogged by insecurities. Her piece concludes, "Maybe I should just be with a boy and make everyone happy." No way girl, you stay just they way you are – the world needs more lesbians. It's a totally unproven, entirely biased fact.
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"Zy-Tasia"? Seriously, who the hell comes up with these names?
The people who name the children. I like that name. Sounds like a lot of creativity, I hope the best for her.