Kernkonzepte
Witnessing and experiencing childhood bullying and homophobia left a lasting impact on the author, which they later had to confront and overcome.
Zusammenfassung
The content is a personal memoir that reflects on the author's experiences with bullying and homophobia during their childhood in 1960s New York City. The author describes witnessing a schoolboy being pushed, kicked, and called a "faggot" by bullies, which left them feeling guilty for not intervening. The author also recounts their own experience of being called a "faggot" by a bully.
The author explains that they did not understand the meaning of the term "homosexual" at the time, and their parents did not discuss gender or race opinions. However, the author notes that the parents of the neighborhood kids seemed to have instilled ignorant beliefs in their children, leading to various forms of bullying and abuse.
The content suggests that the author's experience with bullying and homophobia had a lasting impact, and they had to confront and overcome this trauma later in life.
Zitate
"Roughnecks called people faggots to insult them. If a person designated you with that label, that meant you were a soft touch and effeminate, which ignoramuses associated with homosexuality."
"The boy's face turned beet red and looked as if he would cry. Oddly, he didn't talk back and did nothing to defend himself. The boys pushed him again and again is if trying to break him. Guilt washed over me for not doing something to help."