I should not know, I could not say, I would not tell you anyway.
That was a great essay, Pat! I totally agree with everything you said. And there isn't anything to be ashamed of with this essay. It should've "come out" sooner, I think.
BTW, what mark did your prof give you?
Thanks Raph! Yeah I know, but I'm usually pretty self-conscious of my work... Who knows, maybe I'll post some of my old journals! Some are just stupid, but a few a really personal...
I find it gets easier to share this stuff with time, cause as time passes, it feels a little like it was a different "you" who wrote it.
And in reply to your "BTW", I ended up with an 85% or 88% I think... somewhere around there!
I could care less about someone's sexual orientation. That is their own perrogative. It is quite easy to tolerate, especially in today's society. But if you someone wishes to show public affection right infront of my face, that is where I have a problem with it. Same goes couples in general. I don't want to see people make out at all in public or be all flirty and whatever. But if it was of the same sex I would be bothered a bit more if it was publically displayed. There's a time and place for everything. So consideration on both parts is needed.
That is a damn good mark for that essay Pat.
strangely enough, i had a very similar experience with one of my best friends, after my first year of university. with my friend, it wasn't obvious that she was gay, but *I* knew. it never occurred to me to ask her, however. to find out for 100% sure. and now, after hearing your story, i feel a little bad about it. really, in my case, the rolls were reversed. she was nervous, idly trying to get to a point, but scared to go there. if i had just asked her, years before, when i had figured it out, i would have saved her that toll of her nervous system.
however, it was fun to watch the look on her face when i said "okay, i know you're gay, stop being weird. i'm driving here" and put her out of her misery. i have been friends with that girl for a long time, and we've had a lot of great times. but one of my favorite memories of our friendship was when she came out to me.
and wow, that was a long reflection for the sole benefit of me. 
I remember our school. I couldn't imagine what Garret must have felt like while we were going there. I hated it and felt akward, but damn, he was on this whole other level.
Fancy: Not attacking you, cause I realize that alot of people state that reasoning, but maybe that's why it bugs me so much. I just don't understand why so many people feel they need to say that they "just hate it when gay people make out in front of them" (not a direct quote). I find it almost as bad as when guys say "As long as they don't hit on me". The solution is, just don't watch. I'm not saying I would feel comfortable in a 10x10 room with 7 gay couples making out all around me, but this is not a real world situation. In the real world, you can simply shift your gaze 7 degrees to the left or right, and the "problem" is gone. It's just like you would with a straight couple in the same scenario. I just don't see that those types of comments are necessary... but this is just me! Keep in mind that I know alot of people use the "make-out example" as I like to call it, so this isn't aimed directly at you Fancy!
Mandy: Hey remember when you got that "Most Likely To Walk on the Other Side" award at the formal... like 3 years in a row? Heh... yeah.. that was great. JK buddy!!1 It's cool that she felt comfortable coming out to you though! :D
MacGregor: See, that surprises me, cause you always seemed so comfortable in high school! I guess that's probably how it was with most people though... everyone's got their external stories as seen by others, and their own internal story.
I understand what you are saying pat. But if you read my comment further, it is says displaying public make out sessions of any gender is unappropriate if you are infront of people. Courtesy for everyone should be involved. Everyone has their own thoughts/feelings on the subject of homosexuality. So, what one person believes obviously is going to cause a controversy. You can agree with me on that. Some people go by the moral issue where they don't abide by it, while others accept it with open arms.
My thoughts are just that there is a time and place for public affection. Hell, I don't care holding hands or if there is a peck on the cheek or whatever. But if ANYONE just makes out right in front of me and goes right to town.. I think they lack common sense courtesy.
But, I am not taking it to offense because I know you are not attacking me. :P
I know what you're saying, but the truth is, (on its own) no one ever goes off on tangents about how they just HATE it when staight couples are making out. This idea is always clipped onto the "gay public affection" thing, almost as a justification for the uncomfortability with the other situation (gay PDA). This just doesn't ring true for me. Straight couples do this kind of stuff downtown ALL the time, but no one ever mentions it, but as soon as a gay couple does it, it's pointed out as "wrong". Maybe it's just an issue of what we're used to seeing, and gay couples making out just doesn't fit into that concept of normal. I guess if anything, this just shows how far there is to go before homosexuals can be completely accepted as part of society.
And yes, I realize that the line of thought has side-tracked a bit, but whatever... Anyway, peace out Fancy!
Downtown when you are usually in an "trashed" or "fucked up" state you tend to either a)not care or b)really voice your opinion or c)get your ass kicked
So I guess that takes away from the aura of it. I am meaning like in family restaurants, the mall, a theatre, or something of that nature.
I'm off on a tangent now! haha, peace out!
To add to what Fancy has said:
This argument reminds of one at my high school several years ago at graduation. One of the graduates had his own unique sense of style, and chose to keep this style for graduation, despite the fact that it was FAR from formal.
There was a bit of controversy regarding this. On one side were people who thought that there was no problem with how he dressed for grad. They argued that it was his choice, and that he had every right to wear whatever he wanted as an individual.
I, however, disagree with that. As Fancy said, there's a time and a place for everything, and grad was a formal event. I think HE should've dressed formally for everyone else, out of respect for his peers, parents, and virtually everyone involved in the grad. He put himself before (without knowledge and bad intentions, I'm sure) the greater, common good because of his individual rights. Like Fancy said, it was a matter of courtesy, and that student should have dressed appropriately, even if he didn't want to.
The same goes for people blatantly making out in public.
Just because one feels he has individual rights doesn't mean he can exercise them regardless of time, place, and the people around him.
This is the problem I have with Trudeau's Charter of Rights (or, at least, the attitudes it has brought about). But that's a bigger can of worms I'd rather not open right now.
Also, Pat, just turning your head isn't always an effective solution (and rarely is, I think). For the people at that graduation, it definitely wasn't.
Indeed. There is a difference between toleration and that concept Raph just depicted.
Hi Pat. I am a good friends of Garrett's now and he asked me to read this. I love it but even more, I love him. He is a good guy and one of my new favorite people. I think it is a huge compliment that you not only wrote this about him but put it on your website. I wish that I knew him then ... but I know him now ... and couldn't be happier to have him back in the Q-dot!
ps - he's kinda cute too !!
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