About the Author: A member of SVC’s Shires Press Publishing Program for publishing his first book, Jose Ferreras (Creative Writing, Class of 2017) started writing a five-part series of “character teasers” to give sneak peeks into the supernatural personalities of his novel, titled Decoded. Jose feels happiest when immersing himself in fantasy and supernatural writing. He hopes that the teaser series will encourage readers to pick up a copy of his book at Northshire Bookstore when it is officially released in May of 2017.

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One Man, Ten Years

by Jose Ferreras

In honor of last week’s National Coming Out Day, I have written a poem about my experience over the past ten years as a questioning adolescent and facing self-homophobia and the idea of acceptance.

When I was 11 years old,

I realized I may be attracted to men.

Chris Evans was just too perfect.

When I was 12 years old,

I told my mother about my interest in the same sex.

My sister knew all along.

When I was 13, 14, and 15 years old,

I had began to hate myself for feeling that way.

Even as an ally, I knew that I couldn’t be one of “them.”

When I was 16 years old,

I realized that I was homophobic.

I didn’t want to be.

When I was 17 years old,

I learned to embrace myself for who I am.

I had found comfort in the pansexual terminology.

When I was 18, 19, and 20 years old,

I continued to explore my sexuality.

I am a proud, cisgender, pansexual and biromantic male.

Today, as a 21 year old,

I urge everyone to be proud and outspoken.

You are beautiful.

You are powerful.

You are many shades of gray.

#HappyNationalComingOutDay

Copyright © Jose Ferreras (2016) All rights reserved.