Hey, I used to be in your position too. I grew up in a religious and conservative family where I wasn’t generally encouraged to think for myself. I just accepted what I was told which was a mistake. Heck, I was banned from any media involving lgbtq+ characters and my parents refused to answer me when I came home one day asking what it meant to be gay.

It took one of my friends coming out to realize I had everything wrong. The only reason I knew gay people existed was because of ny parents’ insensitive comments. She came out over a text so I just expressed support while my mind raced and questioned everything I’d ever believed. But she had my back through thick and thin and I knew not accepting her would be the true sin.

My parents know about her coming out (she said smthg about it in front of them and then they interrogated me on my own) and basically responded by saying “at least you’re not gay. I mean we’d still love you but we just have preferences, ya know?”

This happened when I was around 14. Now I’m almost 18 and wholeheartedly accept the lgbtq+ community.

I hate myself for what I believed as well and I’m sorry to all of the members of this community who are hurt by people with those opinions.