Why do I feel so insecure about being seen with a homosexual?

I鈥檓 a senior in high school and for the past 5 years I鈥檝e been a homophobe towards gays and lesbians not because I actually hated them but because it seemed like the normal thing to do. I grew up in a religious family and all we ever talked about was how homosexuals will burn in hell :/



Recently I got kicked off the football team for jabbing one of my team mates in the mouth. My principal assigned me to school volunteer service. I was placed to volunteer in the Special Education program at my school were I met a gay junior whose one of the leaders of the program. He trained me and at first I was very hostile towards him because I had heard he was gay but he started trying to help me with my anger issues and I started opening up to him..



One day after school we had an actual conversation and I discovered we had more in common than I expected, my view from that point on completely changed I went from hating a stranger just because of their sexual orientation to admiring him and even caught myself agreeing with my girlfriend that he鈥檚 quite the good looking one but I refuse to hang out with him outside of school why do I feel so insecure? and he isn鈥檛 effeminate so not to many people know he鈥檚 gay, so I don鈥檛 feel insecure about being labeled gay but association that isn鈥檛 the issue it鈥檚 something else I can鈥檛 figure out?Why do I feel so insecure about being seen with a homosexual?
It's a process. These kind of feelings don't die out over night, but the fact that you're working on it is a big step in the right direction. Maybe one day you will feel comfortable enough to hang out with him after school. But what matters is that you're taking steps to improve yourself as a person. So congrats, seriously.
You are just going to have to get over your insecurity. You are so insecure, because you are afraid that others will think you are gay too. Gay is not a disease nor is it contagious.Why do I feel so insecure about being seen with a homosexual?
Well, at least you've gotten this far in accepting another person and wanting to fix it. That is very admirable of you, and I respect you for that.



It'll take some getting used to, and your issue probably just lies within the fact that you've had a certain view of gays your whole life, and it's hard to get past that.



The most I can suggest is just taking your friendship with this gentleman slowly, get used to it little by little, and remember that him being a homosexual is WHAT he is but not WHO he is.



I'm sorry I can't help more, but good luck in your endeavors.
This is just something that your not used to yet. Youve obviously just found out that you like guys and its all confusing to you. Youll get a better understanding of all this after youve spent more time thinking everything over.Why do I feel so insecure about being seen with a homosexual?
Amigo, it is okay to have honest feelings about this, and I respect your new-found open-mindedness.



Give yourself some time... if your feelings are sincere, positive things will occur little by little. I bet if you confess your sensitivity about this to your new friend, he will understand, and you guys can work on it together. Open conversation is good, and you guys already have a great start. Don't kick yourself about this... just keep making good, honest progress. I consider your tale progress.



Society is evolving, and it is his courage to be out, and your courage to no longer be contemptuous of people different than you that is lighting the path toward healthy change. Harvey Milk said, "if they know us, they don't hate us" and he was right, as the two of you clearly demonstrate.



Thanks for telling this story so we all can learn. Just keep doing what you are doing.



~K
Dude you ought to be proud of yourself. You have opened your mind and your heart. You're on the right track, just give yourself time and keep your mind and heart open.
I have a feeling you are a bit worried about what people are gonna say, i mean after all it is highschool . but if you guys are chill then you 2 should hang out, any one ask just be say hes like a lil bro .Every1 grows up , and realizes how much of an *** theyve been after highschool