Gay, homosexual, I'm starting to think I'm alone...

[AdamJames25]

Okay I just found this site, and I'm noticing that gay men aren't normally MS patients.  I've tried other sites and found the same thing.  I am involved in a LGBT organization.  I just find this interesting, if I'm wrong say "Hi" it would be nice to know I'm not the only gay man with MS.

[PastorDan]

Well put, Bob.  Thank you for your wisdom, as well as your candor.

AJ25, many have stated here how supportive they've discovered this forum to be.  I must agree.  Besides the abundance of good, solid information, the emotional encouragement has been one of the most valuable resources in my health challenges over the past two years.  No matter what else you and I might find as points of agreement or departure, we are both human beings with struggles and questions, with strengths and weaknesses, with experiences, joys, and fears.  If we can give each other a pointer or two along the way, we're both better off.  Stick around and give us a chance; I'm sure that most will reciprocate.

[meg321]

OMG, i lost my message again, and it takes forever to write....its nice to get to know everyone here. We might as well be upfront and honest, we are all in this together. it brings us closer together...lol

I never would have even thought about anyone being gay with MS, it does not discriminate against anyone.

I have my own "titles" too.   I am a recovery alcoholic & drug addict.  We all have our kinks ..or not......  my daughter has HIV ..I know Doms, subs, gays, blacks  and  i have an open marriage.

I would not hide who I am but I also have MS, just like everyone else here,  I can't think , talk,  write or spell....but I try.

Stick around AdamJames25, you are very welcome here..

hugs, meg

[Sumanadevii]

Okay...if Bob wants to go on record, I will, too.  My youngest son is a gay man.  Is the reason I reacted as I did.  We stressed over and over in our home, his sexuality was his business and his alone.  He owed no one an answer.  He surely didn't have to come out of any closet.  After all, did his brothers?  I would have beat him with a stick from home and back had he posted using his sexual orientation to call attention to himself rather than the issue at hand.

I guess not every kid is lucky enough to come from a home where they are accepted unconditionally.  My son has never felt any different than others.  He went through high school with the usual disappointments and teen issues.  Went away to college finding a huge world opened to him.  He today lives with his partner in New York.  His life is full.

I hope AdamJames comes back to post.  I hope he will also understand that using his "gay" signature is not necessary to be heard.

[COBOB]

OK.  I have never seen any relationship between sexual orientation and MS.  Two separate things.  One is what it is (being gay) where the other (MS) is a disease of the CNS.  I have mentioned my partner in several posts.  

If it requires me saying it more bluntly, I'm a gay guy with MS.

Both are part of what I am, but neither defines who I am.  My sexual orientation is what it is.  Believe me, it would be much easier to be straight, so I know I didn't choose to be gay any more than someone else chooses to be straight.  I also know that I would never have chosen to have MS.  

My sexual orientation doesn't change my disease, or my posts in this forum.  I will tell you that it strains my relationship just like it does for a man and a woman.  It instills a desire to help other facing the possibility of MS.  I don't think my MS cares about "ME".  It just does what it does on it schedule.  

Hope this doesn't negative effect anyone's opinion of me, but its your opinion.  I;m sure my disease won't give two shakes about your opinion or mine.  I sent AdamJames25 a message, but I've been here a while and figured that this is a question that may come up once and a while, so now I'm on record:  MS doesn't discriminate based on sexual orientation.
If anyone one wlse asks this question again, feel free to point them my way.

Bob

[Sumanadevii]

I do hope it is understood that I am far from anti gay.  Had the poster referred in a regular posting about his partner, I would have thought nothing of it.  I just felt like and still feel it was out of place for the post and that HE HIMSELF was placing a barrier.  

Then, I do understand where he was coming from, too.  I worked most my life with gay men and women.  I guess that is why I see them totally equal with no division and saw this poster out in left field....Maybe he has not been fortunate enough to be around people that are totally accepting of any sexuality, race, age, etc.

[Jepster]

As a gay woman, I do actually completely see where Sumanadevii is coming from, as I too wonder exactly the same thing... is sexuality relevant when looking for support when it comes to MS? My answer is, I just don't know.

For people whose lives have been affected in so many ways through being gay, e.g.

   Being disowned by the natural support network of a family;

   Being single and suffering with a debilitating chronic illness and with little chance to get
   out to groups to meet other gay people (as I guess many straight people wouldn't ever
   think how difficult it can be for gay people to find other gay people, especailly in
   areas where being gay is not at all acceptable);

   Being victims of homophobic abuse etc,

then being gay has almost certainly had a large effect on forming who they are as a person, and the way they respond to any challenge in life.

In this scenario, then I can really see how having people who can understand their background to discuss the challenge of MS with would be really beneficial, which is probably why the societies that Lulu linked to above e.g. GLAMS here in the UK have been formed.

As for me, and for me only, not Adam, not Sumanadevii, not Kelly etc then the one thing that would matter would be whether I felt comfortable enough in whatever group to include pronouns relating to my partner, and know that I wouldn't receive any anti gay response.

I hope you find the support you're looking for, Adam, but I'd also add that this forum is extremely supportive of everyone who posts here so I hope you're able to find a home here too.

Jep