Dear GayCalgary,
My name is Jocelynn Hurt. I am 21 years old. I grew up in a small town in southern Alberta. I am just wondering why you guys write an article on Colin Walmsley?
Don’t get me wrong he is a great kid. I actually grew up in the same town as him. But he is not the first person to really come out in that town. I came out when I was in grade 9 to some people, and 11 to others in that school. We had our first lesbian wedding when I was in school. I don’t see how his article is of importance. There are a few people that came out in this town. Yes he did do it at the ceremonies, but would it not be better to find someone that was a jock, and that, but was not accepted. When he graduated it was accepted.
I was an outcast when I graduated. I was one of the first people to ever come out in that school. I think it is something more hearing about people that came out that were not accepted and still tried to change things within the school. I was in basketball, and rugby. I was also part of TAR (Teenagers Against Racism), SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions).
There are how many small towns in Alberta that kids come out in all the time. Don’t get me wrong he is by far one of the only gay guys to come out, but what about the lesbians that came out before him that paved the pathway.
In his article he puts that he believe it was his standing that got the acceptance and that. And from living in that town that is exactly what it is. I still go back to this day to see my family and if I am walking down the street names get yelled out to me. My siblings get it a lot about me being a lesbian and in kid’s terms a dyke.
This is just one side of that small town. There are many sides to southern Alberta.
Thanks for your time,
Jocelynn Hurt
Dear GayCalgary,
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