So I just want to start out and say that I’m not gay, I’m straight I just really hate homophobia and bigotry in general and this instance of homophobia really grinded my gears.

So I was in school the other day in my AP bio class (I’m a senior) and we were reviewing for the test and this kid was taking notes. I think it’s important for me to describe him, it’ll come up later on: he’s like 6’5″ and has hair like the Chad meme, he was wearing these sweatpants too. Let me just call him “Brad” for convenience, although keep in mind that’s not his real name.

So back to the story: he was taking notes on the reproduction unit, when he nudged his friend sitting next to him. He cracked a joke: something about the diagram of testicles, like “look at those balls haha” or something like that. So then Brad’s friend was like “You spending a whole lotta time looking at those balls, you gay?”

Nothing could prepare me for what happened next. I couldn’t believe something like this would happen in this day and age. Brad said “Nah bro I ain’t no flag” but instead of “flag” he said the f word which I won’t repeat because, again I’m straight not gay so I can’t say it. I was shocked, visibly, so he looked at me and said “you a flag or something?” and i said “No I’m straight I’m just an ally,” then he responded “sure you are with that gay ass haircut”. I didn’t even know how to respond so I just went back to taking notes.

Next class it got even weirder. So I went to use the bathroom and I was walking down the hallways and went in and hopped in the stall. Then through the crack in the door I saw a pair of sweatpants and those big legs walking in them, i knew it had to be Brad. Anyway he hopped in one of the stalls and I could tell from the sounds he wasn’t in there for the same reason I was, to put it one way. I heard this rubbing sound and a sort of heavy breathing. I took a peek under the stall and I could see his pants were fully on, then took a peek above the stall. It confirmed my suspicions. He was holding his junk in his right hand, his phone in the other. And it gets weirder.

I leaned in closer, my hands holding on tight to the stall wall. I looked at his phone to see what he was bonking it out to, and I saw two men just getting at it with each other. Like I’m not gay so i wouldn’t be certain but it looked like it wasn’t anything weird, pretty vanilla stuff but still gay, not anything wrong with that but considering this guy was also really homophobic (I didnt put this in here earlier but a couple weeks ago Brad pushed a gay kid into a locker)? Like think about all the gay people this man has hurt over the years with his hatred. I know it’s internalized homophobia probably but that does NOT make it okay in any way. So I quickly went back in my stall when Brad said “What the fuck man!” but then I told him “who’s the f word now?” but in this instance what I said actually was “f word, i didnt actually say a slur.

Yeah not to sound misogynistic or anything (I like to consider myself a male feminist) but I’ve kinda made Brad my b-word now that I know his deep little secret. Any time I catch him saying something homophobic now I just look him in the eye from across the room, he stops cause he doesnt want this secret out. I also make him do my homework sometimes. This might sound bad but homophobia and bullying just really grinds my gears and I’m trying to do my part to prevent it. I really try to do my best every day to stand up for people who are scared ti stamd up for themselves and to be a good ally.