I grew up in a village in Central Il.  I knew that I was different than the other boys but didn't know why.  In my mid teens, I understood that the God of my understanding (at that time) was a hateful God.

When I joined the Air Force, I maintained my standing in the Atheist Religion, but discovered something that changed my life for the better.  I Was GAY!

It was a wonderful liberation.  I immediately fell in love, but found out that the person that I was in love with wasn't the white picket fence kind of guy.  It nearly destroyed me.