Lane

Growing up in the small town of North Vernon, not far from Columbus, Indiana, I felt a lot less open about my sexuality. If I had been openly gay I feared that I would have felt like an outsider. Not many people were out, or identified themselves as homosexual in my town. I pretty much kept it to myself until junior year of high school when I told just a couple of my closest friends and my parents.

In college I felt much more comfortable and I became open about my sexuality. There were many others like me here at Ball State University and no one seemed to care about my sexuality. I joined Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity and my fraternity brothers became some of my best friends. I chose Ball State for their nursing program and I accepted a place on their swim and dive team. As a college diver I never felt like my sexuality made a difference in who I was. My coaches and teammates knew I was gay and supported my relationship with another guy. My sexuality is just a small part of me. I love who I love, but that really doesn’t affect the whole course of my life.

I believe that Indiana is pretty inclusive as a whole for the LGBT community. Sure, some areas are better than others, but most are very inclusive. Even now, when I return home to North Vernon to visit my family, I don’t feel like I have to hide who I am. I live life fearlessly and wouldn't change a thing about the place I live or the city I grew up in. It has all been a learning experience both for me and for the rest of society as things in our state have progressed. I do not see Indiana as my forever home, but I would never cross it off as an option. You never know where life might take you.