An uncomfortable conversation from me to you and it is very true

Let me take a moment to introduce myself to all of you formally. I was born Lawrence Edward Hinchee, JR. Since my dad inherited Lawrence I was called “Eddie” all of my life.

There are several things a person can’t control when they are born. Skin color, parents, country. City or state of birth. Children can’t control who they will love. With the physical, sexual and mental abuse I suffered as a child, is there a wonder that all of my boyfriends I had growing up were always younger than I was? I did have some adult lovers as a child. Two of them went to prison the third one just disappeared without a trace.

I was bullied because I was gay and effiminite. I am not as popular as my niece and her coming out as gay has been celebrated. I lived in the closet. Two different generations. I played youth sports. Well I made the team and rode the bench every week.

Growing up as an LGBTQ+ youth during the the 1960’s and 1970’s was very difficult. We were beaten, harassed, bullied, threatened. Stonewall started the revolution for gay rights. My adult boy friend at the time it was happening tried to explain everything to me, but I was barely nine and didn’t quite understand it all.

I had to keep a constant look over my shoulder changing classes since 90 percent of the time I went to school looking like Muhammad Ali had worked me over for fifteen rounds. So if there weren’t any appearance of new bruises the attackers got away with it. I…