Pride Reflection: Travis

Growing up I always knew I was a bit different from the other boys my age. I played with dolls, danced with my sister, and gravitated towards the girls in school because I clicked better with them. These things don’t make you gay, but I think most gay men can sympathize with me. We all know the struggles of foster care and how it can be a really tough time. It’s a never ending fight: for equality, fair treatment, and the fight for our basic needs to be met. Now add being a queer person on top of all that, it becomes nearly impossible to make it.

Living in a group home in foster care around 8-9 other boys while being gay was a huge challenge.They always felt like I was looking at them or “hitting” on them. And everytime my quick response was “you must not feel secure in your sexuality.” Or when they asked “how do you know you’re gay,” I always replied “how do you know you’re straight.” The looks I received from my witty responses make me laugh now.

Being in foster care helped me learn how tough the world is and made me more prepared to be gay in a world where people can hate me because of my sexual preference. Because of foster care I’m more equipped. This doesn’t mean I’m saying all queer people should go into foster care so they can tackle the world! I just think that us queer Fosters have a head start with all the fighting we’ve already done.