I was really worried about what people would say, how they would react. When did you decide on this? Do you know what you're doing? These and many other questions swirled through my head. Foremost among these, however, was the biggie: Can I deal with this? I weighed the pros and cons, crossed my T's and dotted my I's as best I could, and began.

I found, as my project progressed, that I had been underestimating my friends and family. Sure, they had problems understanding the blueprints, but they stuck by me. They supported me as best they could, and gave me more love and understanding than I ever expected or could have hoped for. Each day I arm myself with their belief in me and shield myself with their love.

I spent the summer re-developing my identity. You can't expect something to stand tall and strong with a weak foundation and without a lot of work. The foundation I had based myself on was lies, denial, and repression. My project is far from finished, but I have made a good beginning, and I am proud.

This project I undertook is not something unique to me. It's something that many, many people go through. It's better known as "coming out" and it happens when someone who is gay cannot live with hiding who and what they are anymore.

I have been extremely lucky. I have not been kicked out of my house, I haven't lost any of my friends, and no one has attempted to "cure" me. I have heard horror stories from people, stories that shame the entire human race, about things that have happened simply because someone had the courage to speak out and declare who they are, despite the fact this might not conform to a "moral" norm. I am thankful that, in spite of many people's negative views about homosexuality, I found myself surrounded by people with open minds and giving hearts.

While I have lied quite a bit (mainly to myself), I can't honestly label myself a liar, a gambler, an alcoholic, a murderer, or a paedophile as so many ignorant people would--and have. I never bet (except on a sure thing), I have been drunk twice in my life, I have never murdered (unless you include spiders), and I find young boys far more annoying than attractive. Since I've had sex a total of twice in my life, I don't think promiscuity is a problem for me. As for self-discipline and self-control, if I didn't have those by the bucketful, a fair few of my straight friends would be fending me off left, right, and centre.

My name is Kalev Hunt. I am twenty years old and already I have thousands of enemies, people who hate me blindly, because they look at me and see only a label and a threat to their precious, narrow little view of the world.

Gay. Faggot. Queer. Fruit. Homo. Fairy. Poufter. It's not the names that hurt; it's the hatred behind the name-calling. Label it what you will--religious freedom, moral indignation, social norm--but you cannot hide the truth inside.

My name is Kalev Hunt. The rest are just labels.