Member-only story
My Views on Homosexuality
Natural Evolution
I grew up in New York City. When I was in high school, I was considered conservative. But that was by New York standards. Anywhere else, I would have been pegged as a moderate. But, actually, I was always a classic liberal, I just chose conservative values for my personal life. It’s because my parents came from India and that was how they raised me.
So, anyway, we never talked about sex. We certainly didn’t talk about homosexuality.
The first conversation I had about it was when I was a junior in high school. This was in the ‘80s.
My best friend and I were walking in Central Park. She was being surprisingly quiet that day. In my oblivious fashion, I didn’t really wonder about it.
“There’s something I need to tell you,” she said.
“OK.”
There was a pause. I stopped walking and we looked at each other.
“Shefali, I’m gay.”
“OK,” I said, and started walking again. Then I looked at her sideways.
“You’re not going to make a pass at me, are you?”
That made her laugh. “God no! You’re not my type.”
“Good to know.”
