I was raised in an ultra-conservative christian home. I am a bi man. I can promise you that hearing "gay people should be stoned to death" from the elders of

I was raised in an ultra-conservative christian home. I am a bi man. I can promise you that hearing "gay people should be stoned to death" from the elders of my parent's church did not socialize me into my "lifestyle" (this is a misnomer, as I'm not even actively dating a man right now...) The only thing that made my teenage years bearable was what little privacy I could create for myself. Thankfully, the Internet was young and I was able to find supportive communities that helped me navigate these challenges. Without that, the only messaging from every authority or leadership figure in my life was that I was an abomination, going to hell, and unworthy of love. I don't know how I would have survived without that outlet in an otherwise restrictive/repressive environment.