After a friend recalled bullying experiences He has endured through the years I neglected to remember until hours later insidents in my life.

In my late teens studying electro-mechanical drafting a classmate routinely, quietly verbally assaulted me and one day waited till just the right moment to slam a door in my face. That completely shocked and hurt me so much so that I finally reported him. The Instructor sympathized but made me feel that I was on my own to deal with it, telling me to be strong. Soon the bully wanted to be my friend. I accepted his apology but did not encourage the fiendship. 

Amazed that I'd forgotten that period. Growing up in liberal Rhode Island I had an easy time of being gay, for the most part. The first in my family to go to a public high school where I was voted Most Popular....I saw myself as someone on the outside looking in. Not much has changed.