Proud to live in my neighborhood and be who I am. Now it wasn’t this way when I first bought my house and moved on the block in 2005. I was called many a name, threatened but I made claim that I now lived here and I was now a part of the hood. I made a great home, awesome yard and lawn, always out doing something in the yard and garden. Cleaned my sidewalks, swept my curb and smiled and chatted with the watching neighbors. I got rid of the neighborhood drug house who ruled the street before I moved in and started a block watch. I stayed and a couple others of my “kind” moved in as well. They also made a great home, tended to their homes, yards and gardens and live their lives just like everyone else on the street.

Today, I see nice lawns, gardens, neighbors chatting, neighbors sitting on their front porches (something not really observed before) and overall a friendly quiet street. I chat with my neighbors daily about the weather, life, the street, families, etc. My point here is that I am proud of who I am but most importantly I’m proud that people see me as a strong neighborly person in the neighborhood who by the way happens to be gay.