In WJCT’s StoryCorps OutLoud series, we’re hearing from Jacksonville residents who are part of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community. Each week, WJCT’s Lindsey Kilbride shares a conversation recorded by the StoryCorps oral history project. All the participants are linked by the local LGBT youth support group, JASMYN.
Gloria Perino and Edi Castro have been partners for 25 years. They’ve blended together a family and live openly as a lesbian couple. The ladies are an inspiration to many of the JASMYN youth and Castro serves on the board of directors. But they weren’t always as comfortable in their own skin.
In 1998 Castro began volunteering as a JASMYN hotline operator.
Edi: Well when I was on the hotline I remember getting sometimes, not a lot of calls, but a few calls that really had an effect on me, I remember one kid being very very quiet other than saying 'Hello" so I just started talking to him and asking him you know, what he was doing and he really didn't have to talk and this whole conversation went on for about twenty-some odd minutes, and that was the end of it. And I just realized he just wanted someone to be on the other end of the phone, and it was pretty impactful and for me, I realized how important it was that these kids had someone to hear them. But then I realized they're just a younger version of myself.. not fully out, not fully telling people that I am a lesbian, so once I got passed all of that I realized how important it was to be my own self, my true self.
Gloria: Yeah, I wish there was a JASMYN when I was growing up.
E: Me too.
G: Because it would have been so much easier. Even though I am comfortable in my own skin, it was a hard long journey myself. And I always felt different the same way most people do. I always went on dates with boys, and just never felt comfortable. And my parents used to ask "well why didn't that guy last?" I always enjoyed the times before we would go out to the club, that I spent with the girls getting ready and driving to the bar or the club, than when I actually got there because all I wanted to do was leave. So... it was difficult. for me.
E: I know
G: Your parents weren't very cool either.
E: No they were not
So I closeted myself for quite a while and just tried to be the straight girl that they expected. And sooner or later I started dating girls and kind of got dragged out of the closet by my parents, and they weren't very accepting. But, for some reason I was strong enough to be true to myself, which was not an easy thing to do. And that’s what I did. I stayed true to myself.
These interviews were recorded at StoryCorps, a national initiative to record and collect stories of everyday people. Excerpts were selected and produced by Lindsey Kilbride. Next week StoryCorp OutLoud continues with two friends who had very different experiences in coming to terms with their sexuality.
