Name: Matthew Reynolds
Website: Wekcome to Destiny
Referred by: Yahoo!
From: Uk
Time: 1999-05-22 16:16:33
Comments: My Sympathy iswith you

Name: allan
Referred by: Just Surfed On In
From: UK
Time: 1999-05-22 10:19:20
Comments: this has got tobe the most tragic tale i have read.. my heart goes out to him, and his family and freinds. and i hope all that read it,learn from it. so brave..so very very brave x

Name: Andres
Website: La pagina de Lander
Referred by: Just Surfed On In
From: Alicante, Spain
Time: 1999-05-21 22:22:57
Comments: The best way to say thank you would be to translate those words you found on the diary. They are written in the universal language of dignity. No es una eleccion, no es una imposicion, sólo es.

Name: Suzy Gray
Referred by: Yahoo!
From: San Antonio, TX
Time: 1999-05-21 20:04:25
Comments: I've heard and known of far too many stories like Bill's. Let's keep fighting the fight. Our efforts are not in vain.

Name: amanda villarreal
Referred by: Lycos
From: orange park, florida
Time: 1999-05-21 15:46:37
Comments: i read the story about your son and i almost cried. i was looking up information about the how the effects of prejudice have affected gay youth. i went to a site that i can't remember right now. i then went into the gallery and saw your sons picture and what you wrote. so i went to your page about your son. it rips my heart out that that happened. as i am sitting here writing this my eyes are watering and i feel so sick. sick to the fact that hate took your son away. my greatest sympathies. amanda villarreal

Name: Kathy Worthington
Referred by: From a Friend
From: Salt Lake City
Time: 1999-05-21 06:46:50
Comments: Kimmie of "Out in the Open with Kimmie" told me about your site. Just got here. Kathy

Name: Ned
Website: Ned's TSC Page
Referred by: Just Surfed On In
From: New Jersey
Time: 1999-05-21 04:20:42
Comments: This tribute to your son is greatly inspiring. Recently one of my friends came out to his parents and has been living a nightmare ever since. It's wonderful to see that there are parents who love their children unconditionally.

Name: Ashley Flori
Referred by: From a Friend
From: rhode island
Time: 1999-05-20 15:47:16
Comments: I have to give you praise. Billseems like a wonderfull kid! I not being part of hate crimes can still say I know what ur son was going through. he's not in hell mam he is right up there looking down on you and hes happy you would be proud of him becuz he doesn't have to worry about woh he is anymore he is at peace. I too am a open homosexual female, and i admire you for speaking and supporting people Bill and myself. Recently I became so frustrated with the way things are i hit something and broke my knuckle and scliced my tendon. so you see Bills suffering wasn't for nothing mam it was for all of us. I think of your son as brave i don't have the courage to stand proud for who i am, but the way he did makes the opening seem alittle less narrow to that hallway!=) Your son was on television the day he spoke at the rally wasn't he? i think iremember him talking it stirred something in my memory when i saw the photo of him waiting to speak at the rally i knew i had seen him somewhere. well i just wanted to say thank you for your page is truley is beautifulwaht you do! keep it up you ogive us hope. {I AM NOT GONE FROM YOUR HEARTS, SIMPLY GONE FROM YOUR EYES AND WHEN WE DO MEET AGAIN I THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE!}

Name: Jason
Website: Coming Out Website
Referred by: From a Friend
From: London UK
Time: 1999-05-19 00:15:38
Comments: Well it's hard to find words, all I can say is what a tragic story. I hope any anti-gay person who reads this site will redress their feelings towards the gay community. With stories like these and the recent bombing in Soho that killed 3 innocent people and left 70 wounded one wonders what it will take to stop the hate. As little as it is all I can offer are my sincere condolencies at the loss of your son, and hope he's found the peace he couldn't find in life. Love Jason Curley

Name: sam
Website: my site
Referred by: Just Surfed On In
From: London, UK
Time: 1999-05-19 00:08:15
Comments: I tried to thik what to say here. I made a few attempts but nothing seemed to explain what this story makes you feel. All I can think to say is that your son was a beautiful example of humanity, and that the story inspires me with some sort of hope about life. If i could be half as beautiful example of humaity as your son, I would die happy. sam

Name: Leo O'Shaughnessy
Website:
Referred by: Just Surfed On In
From: Dublin, Ireland
Time: 1999-05-18 16:36:48
Comments: Dear Gaby, I have just finished reading Bill's story, and I am truly shocked and stunned that someone so innocent and beautiful should have to endure such pain at such a early stage of their life. i am a 26 year old Gay man living with my partner Mark in Dublin Ireland. I remember very well the trauma and absolute sense of desperation that pervaded every waking minute of my life during my teenage years. I went to a very sport oriented macho Catholic run school here in Dublin that did not accept differences however small, and as a result when I came out to a person that I thought was my friend, he told as many people as were willing to listen. As a result from the age of fourteen on, I had to suffer daily even hourly taunts about something that I had not even learned to deal with myself never mind having to deal with other people. I was raised in the catholic mould, and as I am sure you are aware, catholocism is very clear in it's attitute toward homosexuality. As a result I found it very difficult myself to accept who I was and for a long time, in no doubt helped along by my schoolmates taunts and jibes, I pretended to be straight. Unfortunately the only person that I was fooling was myself and as a result I was very unhappy from age 12 to 18. I tried to kill myself a couple of times and although my parents were very worried and tried their hardest to find out what my troubles were, because of the institutionalised religion that had been burnt into my head from a very early age, and also the way my friend had earlier betrayed me, I refused to tell them why, I had done such a desperate thing. I myself felt as though I was bad, and evil and a pervert and considered myself a 'fag', which by then had become my school nickname, and in fact the only way in which my classmates and sometime teachers addressed me from day to day. I survived however, and made it out of school and into college where I found a much more open attitude to 'alterative lifestyles' and although I was still not able to come out to my parents, i did comeout to my closest friends and they were great about it. I think in a way I was lucky because as just the same time that I was coming out of school a revolution was happening in Irish society. A society that had been so closed and conservative for so long, had been rocked by a couple of stunning revelations about the very pillars of society that had spent so long pontificating about how to live, and what was right and what was wrong, The Catholic Church. It was revealed that children in the care of Priests, Brothers and Nuns had been systematically abused and maltreated both physically and sexually for over 50 years under the guise of care. This had not only been funded by the government , but the warning signals had been ignored and swept under the carpet for years. As a result there was for the first time, evidence that the Church, in which the Irish people had a unbending and unquestioning faith previously, was in fact flawed and fallible. Irish people started for the first time to look at the teachings of the church and look at them with the eyes of people looking for hypocrisy. They found it! In bucketfuls! Ireland in the last ten years had thrown off the yoke of Catholocism, and as a result has put behind them the bigotry and hate spouted by those who profess only to love. As a result the environment in Ireland has become much more accepting for people of all types, whether they be, Black, White, Gay straight, or even the English ( another pet hate of the Irish that when held up to light of day proved to be a bigoted view pushed by the church.) I can now walk down the street in Dublin Hand in hand with my boyfriend and whilst we might get a funny look now and again from older generations, no-one would say a word, because we believe now that everyone has the right to live their own life in the manner that they see fit. I have come out to my parents and all my friend and family, and I have received nothing but love from everywhere, I worry for America however. Whilst we seem to be moving ever more in the right direction, In the USA there seems to be an evermore violent backlash from the Christian Right. Only the other day, I read that a christian group calling themselves the Campaign to retake America, are planning to show ad's on Network Television, offering a cure for homosexuality! How is it that the followers of a man who preached nothing more than Love thy Neighbour (NO MATTER WHAT OR WHO THEY ARE!)can twist and distort his teaching to arrive at this message of bigotry and hate. We here in Ireland have managed to confront our demons, and I believe we have made it out the other side into a much more loving and accepting community with a future to be proud of. You have made a stand in this arena Gaby, and I applaud you from the very bottom of my heart. It is people like you who will in time begin to make a dent in the armour of bigotry. In my humble opinion, it is this bigotry that is destroying America. Eating it up from the inside. Here 3000 miles away, I cannot turn on the TV without hearing another story of Racial violence, religous violence, or indeed violence toward minorities such as Homosexuals. Your beatiful son will thanks to you however not die in peoples hearts, because every day people, will just surf in (like I did) to this website and his memory will live on. A young man, struggling with problems that most of today's youth, never have to face. A lifetime of stress all before the age of 18. I salute you Gaby and I wish you peace and happiness. In deepest sympathy and hope, Leo O'Shaughnessy Dublin Ireland

Name: Edward A. Towle jr.
Referred by: From a Friend
From: New Hampshire
Time: 1999-05-16 20:45:20
Comments: The story about Billy Clayton really touched me personally. I went through simular things throught my younger years. I was a very depressed young man, because of the things i heard about people that were gay. I knew i was gay at a young age and the tthings that i heard made me VERY depressed. I only wanted to be liked and have a happy life. I tries suicide several times, i didnt want to live but i didnt want to die. I just wanted to be happy. I also had a hard fight with drugs and alcohol at a young age. I started when i was 9 years old and ran with it. I went in and out of mental hospitals came close to dying. I have been sober for 1.5 years now and have been dealing with being gay. I came out to my father one day when he was taking me home from the hospital. He just said what ever your happy with i still love you, It was sad but it helped. Well thats enough now probably boring ya. The story about Billy makes me sad, because it reminds me about myself, and other young people that go through it. I dont want to have to fight all my life to be who i want to be and be accepted. I think sometimes that it should of happened to me, because i do go through some times of shame. Especially if i here people talking about gay people. The story made me cry. Your son will be remember by me. I didnt know him or ever met him but i feel his pain as well as yours and your husbands. God bless you, and thank you for a story that will make me fight more for who i am. Thank you. Take care. Love ya Love ED

Name: Chris Wilcox
Referred by: Just Surfed On In
From: Parkersburg, WV
Time: 1999-05-16 06:38:35
Comments: Thanks for such an awesome webpage and such a beautiful and special tibute to what seemed to be a guy that was full of life. I too am a bisexual teen, and this is an inspiration to me. Thank you !

Name: Sharon Munn
Website: Sharon's Place
Referred by: Net Search
From: Cincinnati, OH
Time: 1999-05-14 22:05:32
Comments: Your dedication to your son is beautiful. Thank you for sharing, what you must have gone through is beyond my comprehension. Sharon

Name: Connie Wilson
Referred by: From a Friend
From: Ohio
Time: 1999-05-14 20:03:12
Comments: So saddened am I with the loss of your son, Bill. I have a brother that went thru hell as a child "because of his difference". He was such a sweet, loving, caring, and devoted person and still is. But when I think of all the horror he went thru and the pain....it is almost too much to bear. NO ONE has the right to abuse or mistreat anyone else. Where has all the love gone????

Name: Connie Wilson
Referred by: From a Friend
From: Ohio
Time: 1999-05-14 17:36:53
Comments: It is so very sad that there has to be so much hate and crime in our country and so many people cannot accept others for their differences. My heart is sad and cries out to you, the family, and others like you.

Name: Chad G.
Website:
Referred by: From a Friend
From: md - usa -
Time: 1999-05-14 06:01:53
Comments: Greetings! I am numb right now after reading this. this makes me ill i am gay and i have tried several times to kill mself also. i had a very hard time dealing with finding myself being gay at 17 . i am now 19 things are a bit better now but still i fight so hard some days just to survive sometimes the evil gets me down so bad. i just try and make the best of each day and not look for the future since i have no idea if i will be here or not. its not right that society judges us different what i find in the USA more than in my homeland (Ukraine) is that poeple judge so much here in usa and degrade everyone. it hurts so much to see this happen to great guys as your son was and is. it hurts so much i will never understand it all i guess. i have tried so hard to but it is so confussing and all on why people hate us so much. i have made a web page with alot of links on it to hope to try and help others deal better with being gay and young but my site is something there for everyone i cannot change the world but hopefully i can change the mind of just one person not to kill themselves. i have added your sons page to mine as a link i hope that this is ok i think to get your message out so others can learn from it all and hopefully save themselves you have made a very nice tribute page for him Love & Peace to you ~Chad

Name: tim
Referred by: Just Surfed On In
From: nebraska
Time: 1999-05-13 04:07:15
Comments: i could not believe how my life has compared to your story. what an incredible bunch of parents you both are to understand and love such an incredible person. i want to thank you for sharing your story. You are truly an inspiration.thank you, tim

Name: melissa chenier
Referred by: Yahoo!
From: surrey
Time: 1999-05-12 18:55:23
Comments: I read your story. I toched my heart, cuz I am bisexual. I understand how he feels. I just wish it could be more easier than now. I wish people will respect us.

Name: Matt Whitney
Website: Matt's page
Referred by: Yahoo!
From: West Covina, Ca
Time: 1999-05-12 07:44:42
Comments: Very moving story

Name: Lauren
Referred by: Yahoo!
From: Fairfield, CT
Time: 1999-05-12 02:30:51
Comments: Your story has inspired me so much. I am a 15-year-old sophomore at Fairfield High School. Our town is a sleepy little suburban place where different is bad and "good kids" are celebrated. When I entered Fairfield High I noticed something that disturbed me greatly; the throwing around of violent comments. Words that were aimed to make people feel different or bad were screamed in a hallway several times daily. My brother was a senior the year I entered the school, a straight senior, but a "different" person. Of course, the "good kids" labelled him as a homosexual, they called him terrible names every day, threw things at him. One time there was an incident similar to Bill's, and he ended up in the hospital. Luckily he only had two broken bones. However, the police in our town aren't as helpful as they were in yours. They called him "An obvious loser, faggot, with no friends." they said it could have been avoided if he were more social and joined some sports teams. It was left at that, because my fa

Name: Melissa
Referred by: Yahoo!
From: Oshawa Ont ~Canada~
Time: 1999-05-10 17:22:30
Comments: After reading Bill's story it kinda made me realize that there is a lot of people in Oshawa who wont accpect one for being gay lesbine or bisexual. When i came out and told my parents that i was bisexual they didn't want to have me admit to anyone. They thought I was confussed and well I knew myself that I'm not. I used to get harrased to the point were i myself tried to kill myself. At my time of depression no one was really there. But It's not an easy thing to get over. I've tried to kill myself cause i was made to belive that being bi-sexual wasn't accpected in my family. But now that my parents see that I'm not changing they accpect it. But still my peers don't. So it is hard for me to make new friends and then tell them i am bisexual. I was burtaly beaten by kids at my school. And i was blamed for it. I just thought i would share some off my story wiht you. from Melissa

Name: Bill Conklin
Referred by: Just Surfed On In
From: San Juan, PR
Time: 1999-05-10 15:10:19
Comments: I was touched by your website. Every teen suicide like this is such a real loss. We so infrequently take the time to look back on the hard times we've all traveled through and think forward to helping others cope with those difficult journies. God Bless...

Name: Amber
Referred by: From a Friend
From: St. Louis, Missouri
Time: 1999-05-09 16:21:22
Comments: I was touched by the love you showed for your son. It's important for us to know our parents still love us. Thank you for sharing your story.

Name: patty
Referred by: From a Friend
From: Michigan
Time: 1999-05-09 00:12:31
Comments: I am truly sorry that so many people are full of hate. It just doesn't seem right. I will say a silent prayer for you and your family tonight. Take care, Patty

Name: Yale Hudson
Referred by: Just Surfed On In
From: Australi
Time: 1999-05-07 14:44:35
Comments: Bills story has brought tears to my eyes. I have been blind to the hatred. My eyes are now open, and it is an ugly world that I see before me. I have a son who is 3 years old and now realise that in order for him to grow-up in the kind of world I would like, I need to do something! Thank you! You have provided the inspiration needed to begin, to take the steps needed...I hope we met on the way.

Name: Jane Schmitz
Referred by: From a Friend
From: Menomonee Falls, WI
Time: 1999-05-07 02:35:20
Comments: What a touching, sad, yet inspiring story. It should inspire everyone of us to treat all fellow human beings with kindness and compassion. The world will be a better place when children are taught to accept, love and respect each other, despite their differences. As a parent of two sons, my heart was heavy when I read Bill's story. I will always encourage my sons to treat others with the compassion and understanding that we all deserve.

Name: Martin McHugh
Referred by: Just Surfed On In
From: Jacksonville, FL
Time: 1999-05-06 04:15:00
Comments: I came across this web site while doing research for the Gay Pride Celebration at work.Jacksonville is in the bible belt, and June will bring objections on religious grounds. Last year I posted some facts about gay issues on the bulletin board. One person admitted that the starteling facts about suicide in the Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender world caused her to re-think her attitude towards gays. Your web page will reach far more people than my bulletin board. This year I would like to use Billy's story. He will be remembered in Jacksonville for a long time.

Name: Sarah
Referred by: Just Surfed On In
From: NY
Time: 1999-05-06 03:31:44
Comments: First of all I would like to say how sorry I am about your son. I am an 18 year old female from ny and for my government class I had to write a report about homosexual hate crimes. This is when I came across your story. Your story touched me in a way that made me feel sorry, not only for you but myself also. I was given this certain assignment because of my views. I grew up a strong catholic thinking that God made Adam and Eve NOT Adam and Steve. I must admit I laughed and told plenty of gay jokes. Reading your story has helped me to understand that no matter what you look like, who you are, what you like, or whatever sex you are attracted to does not make you a good or bad person. I feel really shallow and stupid. I do believe in God and right now if you do ever read this, I think your son is watching and I think he is proud of you for telling people about him and what has happened to him. You have changed me in a huge way. I think I have matured and have a greater love in life now for myself and for others even if they are different. Thank you and I am sure you have made your son proud.

Name: Jeff Skinner
Referred by: Just Surfed On In
From: Boston, MA
Time: 1999-05-05 23:22:37
Comments: I am a student at Tufts Univ., just outside of Boston, and I happened to surf onto your extraordinary site in the midst of doing research on a paper related to hate crimes. I will certainly use your site as anecdotal evidence to argue in my paper for the need of universal, federal hate crimes laws that include sexual orientation as a precursor. I will also forward the url address to the director of the lesbian, gay, and bisexual resource center here. I am dealing with the pain of coming out to family members right now and it is so heartening to learn that there are parents out there as supportive as yourself. Thank you for all you've done, and please fell free to email me if you have any questions.

Name: Peter Gadol
Referred by: Yahoo!
From: Los Angeles
Time: 1999-05-05 20:38:04
Comments: I was very moved by your narrative/ web site. Your courage is inspiring. It is through making known stories like the tragedy of your son and your family that progress might occur. I can imagine how the events of the world, the Shepard hate crime, the failure of any legislative body to react, must seem discouraging; but we have to press on and fight harder, and the story you have to tell provides the sustenance for the long struggle ahead. Thank you so much.

Name: Timothy Smith
Website:
Referred by: Just Surfed On In
From: Pawling NY
Time: 1999-05-05 02:36:51
Comments: Being a gay son of my parents, I know how much love is needed to deal with something like this, and even though it's 5 years later, I know it still hurts, and I just wish my parents were as open about it as you. They don't talk about it, which I count my blessings, but being able to talk about it sometimes does help. I commend your efforts.

Name: Simon Gillespie
Referred by: Just Surfed On In
From: Sydney, Australia
Time: 1999-05-04 18:19:39
Comments: Gabi, you have told beautifully an ugly tale. We must all work to turn negativity into positivity, to fill the vacuum of our silence with a joyous and vocal celebration of our wonderful diversity. I wish you the peace and strength to continue your journey. I know that Bill is continuing his.

Name: Jennifer
Referred by: Just Surfed On In
From: Mosinee Wi
Time: 1999-05-03 23:12:19
Comments: thankyou for making this page, I just wrote a paper on Bill for school, I dont know how someone can do that to another human being because they aren't a carbon copy of themselves well thanks again and Im soory that this happened. Jenny Cable

Name: Jamila
Website: MamaMila Salsa
Referred by: From a Friend
From: Bid Island Hawaii
Time: 1999-05-03 04:30:14
Comments: I am sad to see your story, I live in an inter racial marriage and know what it's like to receive unwarranted, arbitrary hate. We attempt to teach our children to love. our home is a rainbow. Blessings on your lives. Aloha.

Name: Donna, Shari's mom
Website: Memorial to Shari
Referred by: Just Surfed On In
From: Homer, NY
Time: 1999-05-02 22:29:24
Comments: Gabi and family, I came to your site from the 1000deaths May Anniversary pictures, just to see who else is grieving especially this month. I had not visited Bill's site before. I am so sad for the loss of your wonderful son. Today, in church I was asked to read a statement from the YWCA national because I am a long time YW employee. The statement concerned the YWCA National Day of Committment to eliminate the hate. It was very powerful and gave me something to focus on besides Shari's eighth death anniversary yesterday and her would have been 25 birthday today. I will send good thoughts your way this month, especially on May 8. Donna

Name: keith malsher
Referred by: From a Friend
From: northamptonshire
Time: 1999-05-02 14:16:14
Comments: what a lucky lad to have a mum like you, & family. i have read many things on the internet, but today this made me cry. keep up the good work, Keith

Name: Tom Concert
Website: Tom's Web Page
Referred by: Just Surfed On In
From: New York City, New York
Time: 1999-05-02 04:18:25
Comments: Gabi, your son's story is all too common these days. I'm afraid all I can offer you though is my condolences. It saddens me because as a 17 y.o. gay man, I know all to well the pain of living in an unaccepting world. Life deals us all difficult blows and in your practice as a mental health professional, I'm sure you know that. We just have to learn to keep on going. I wish I could've befriended your son, like many other kids in his situation, because I understand. But it just never works out that way. My heart goes out to you. Much love and prayers. Keep up the good fight.

Name: Michelle Russell
Referred by: Yahoo!
From: Michigan
Time: 1999-05-02 00:36:33
Comments: I't really touched me.....it made me upset that something like that happened......i'm really sorry that there is stupid people out there....that did that so bad that your son committed suicide.......

Name: Aaron L. Beverly
Referred by: Just Surfed On In
From: Tallahassee, FL
Time: 1999-05-01 21:31:22
Comments: It disturbs me greatly to see how far the human race still has to go to meet even the barest minimum standards of decency. I am truly sorry for the sadness that was inspired by the unwarranted hatred of your son. Please accept my condolences. How we live in a world where people exist who think it better to celebrate the brutal murder of a homosexual, or the heartache of a teen's choice to end his own life is beyond my ability to comprehend. If this is the religious and moral community's idea of God's will, they have looked neither to common rationalism, or to the book they so often quote.

Name: Lyndsey
Referred by: Just Surfed On In
From: Sheffield, England
Time: 1999-05-01 02:51:29
Comments: Dear Mrs Clayton. Tonight a nail bomb exploded in the Soho area of London killing 2 and injuring over 60 others. It blew up a gay pub. It was specifically directed at the gay community. I am bitterly disgusted and completely upset at the moment because of this incident. I came on the internet as a distraction and a form of escapism, but I am glad that I came across the site about your son. What a terrible shame and waste of such a special individuals life - and he obviously was very special. It takes a lot of bottle for someone to come out. To be discriminated against, and to have to endure such treatment is beyond sickening. Such hate crimes as the bombing, and the crimes that your son suffered are just pathetic. Through reading your page I'm sure that you have helped so many people. You have certainly ensured the memory of your son and enlightened people into the effects of homophobia. If only others could be as understanding as you. Lyndsey, 20,UK,Gay.

Name: Jimmy Tankersley
Referred by: Yahoo!
From: Little Rock, Arkansas
Time: 1999-04-30 03:41:09
Comments: Bill's story is a very moving story that you hear all to often now days. I think this story is one that would move anyone. It is so sad that things like this are true but, I guess that they become more and more true everyday. That shows just how sad society can be.

Name: Todd Warlik
Referred by: Yahoo!
From: Tallahassee,FL
Time: 1999-04-29 23:16:31
Comments: "Bill's Story" moved me to tears. I only hope that more people read it and are as moved as I was. As a 22 year old gay man, I've dealt with hate a bigotry for for awhile now. It's so nice to know that there are people like you out there who are so kind and loving. God bless...

Name: Bob Fougere
Referred by: Just Surfed On In
From: Nova Scotia, Canada
Time: 1999-04-29 19:23:09
Comments: On Reading the story I felt so bad for you and your family and for Billy. Keep up the good work. We are working in NS to stop this sort of thing from happening. Your story has been an insperation. Thanks!

Name: frank (the poet)
Website: rainbow room
Referred by: Just Surfed On In
From: west columbia, sc
Time: 1999-04-28 19:22:49
Comments: AFTER READING ABOUT WHATHAPPEN I AM LEFT WITH NO WORDS TO EXPRESS MY FEELINGS. THE STORY MADE ME SAD BUT IT ALSO MAE ME HOPEFUL, THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO ARE NOT SO IGNORANT THAT THEY CAN LOVE A PERSON DESPITE A DIFFERENVCE THAT TO ME IS AN EXCUSE FOR HATE.....I AM GAY, 21, EVERYTIME I HEAR A STORY OF VIOLENCE OR SUICIDE I WONDER WHAT CAN I DO TO STOP THIS INSANITY...WHAT CAN I DO WHEN I FEAR THAT ONE DAY, THE WRONG PERSON WILL FIND OUT THAT I'M GAY, THIS SAME THING WILL HAPPEN TO ME...I AM NOT OPEN TO ALL PEOPLE FOR THE FEAR OF THIS AND TO ME ONLY PEOPLE CLOSE TO ME OR THOSE WITH OPEN HEARTS AND OPEN MINDS SHOULD BE TOLD FOR THE REASON IT'S NOT SAFE AND I AM SO UNCERTAIN ABOUT EVERYTHING...I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY FOR HOW I FEEL...I'M JUST TOO AFRAID OF WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN TO ME IF MORE PEOPLE KNEW...SOMETIMES I THINK IT WOULD BE SO MUCH EASIER IF I JUST DENIED HOW I FEEL BUT I'VE TRIED THAT MOST OF MY LIFE AND DURING THOSE YEARS I WAS DEPRESSED....

Name: lando320
Referred by: Yahoo!
From: columbus, ohio
Time: 1999-04-28 18:04:05
Comments: I agree with what your family is trying to do. There is so much hate out there and it is getting out of control. The hate you write about is just one of the many ways people and especially children are being effected. The incident at Columbine will hopefully wake some people up and let them see the hate that really does exist in many forms. I am sorry for the lose of your son. The discrimmination has to STOP!

Name: james bowen
Referred by: Just Surfed On In
From: Dallas, Tx
Time: 1999-04-28 06:18:00
Comments: You were lucky parents to have had such a great son..I wish my mom had your courage when I was younger....through it all he had your support and love and that is the most important thing a parent can give a child....James in Dallas

Name: Gabi Clayton
Website: An index of all the Responses to Bill's Story, and other related pages...
Referred by: Tripod
From: Olympia, WA
Time: 1999-04-27 16:57:51
Comments: This new guestbook was started on 4/27/99. I have a webpage with links to all the response pages, many other guestbook pages, and the pages related to "Bill's Story" -- see the link above. There is a limit to the size of entries, so if you have a lot to say it may cut off a part. You can send me a response in e-mail and ask me to post it on the Response pages if you wish. Thank you for visiting my website, for taking the time to respond, and for all your support. Love, Gabi