Straight Male Cheerleader Learns What It Is Like To Be Gay
• Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual
Cole Graves of Platte Valley High School is a heterosexual youth who got a taste of what it is like to be gay in a homophobic society.
He was a male cheerleader and that made him a target for young louts who include "fag bashing" among their hobbies. Frustration and hurt caused him to quit the cheerleading squad.
"After I got out of wrestling practice, four guys were waiting on the corner to beat me up because they said I was gay," Cole said. "I'm not gay."
Cole said when he first started to get teased, he notified cheer squad coaches, who said they would take care of it. After no results, he said he notified the athletic director, Steve Morgan, who said he would take care of it. ...
Though the name-calling has worn him down, he said he now has sympathy for others who undergo similar teasing.
"I know I'm not gay," he said. "It's probably harder for a person who is gay and has to be called names. I feel so sorry for them."

Comments
wow. the “gay experience” does not always lead to or have a connection with getting beat up. some kid who got beat up and teased because people thought he was gay doesn’t mean he “learned what it’s like to be gay.” it has nothing to do with being gay at all and only to do with being desciminated against. wow the title to this article doesn’t suit the message. being descriminated against for who you are/choose to be always hurts and now he knows that too…
Posted by: notyournoctis | November 21, 2006 05:22 PM