I Used to Disrespect LGBTQ People

I regret how I treated someone during my younger years due to ignorance and a lack of understanding.

Around age 15–16, there was a gay classmate of mine who I was not very respectful towards at times.

I made hurtful comments and jokes that I’m sure caused them pain.

I cringe now thinking back on the way I acted.

No one deserves to feel disrespected or belittled because of their sexual orientation.

We were all just kids then, but it was still wrong of me to use sexuality as an insult or something to mock.

I have grown since that period in my life and learned that LGBTQ+ people are just normal human beings deserving of dignity and respect like anyone else.

While I can’t take back what I said or did, I hope that if this person from my past is reading this, they know how sincerely sorry I am.

There is no excuse for my behavior — only regret and a commitment to do better. I’ve learned that true courage is standing up for others, not putting them down.

If I could speak to my younger self, I’d tell him to open his mind and heart more to people different than him.

All I can do now is continue educating myself, call out prejudice when I see it, and set a respectful example for others.

Being kind costs nothing.

I hope that through living more inclusively and speaking up for equality, I can somehow make positive amends for the mistakes of my past.

We all have room to grow — the most important thing is choosing to grow in a direction of greater understanding and compassion.

I’ve replayed this memory in my head many times, trying to understand my actions.

All these years later, I still feel deep shame when I think about the hurtful things I said without considering how it might affect someone.

We were just kids back then, but my words cut deep.

“Why did you say that?” you asked me, with pain in your eyes.

I had no good answer for you.

In my foolishness, I never meant to cause such pain.

If only I could take it all back.

But time only moves forward, I’ve learned.

All I can do is be a kinder, more thoughtful person.

When I see someone struggling, I think of you and what you must have felt in that moment thanks to me.

I’ve grown since then, tried to treat all people with compassion.

But this memory keeps me humble.

“It’s never too late to say sorry”, as my grandma used to tell me.

I hope that’s true, and hope someday I’ll find the courage to apologize to you face to face.

Will you ever forgive a foolish boy for what he said so long ago? I don’t know. But I must follow MLK’s wise words: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.” All I can do is try to bring more light into the world.

“To err is human, to forgive divine,”

said someone.

I hope you might find it in your heart to forgive a mistake from my past.

It’s a lesson that will stay with me forever.

Having regrets is a common human experience. Most people report having regrets about their personal and professional life choices. Common regrets include career, education, romance/marriage, and children/family decisions.

Research shows that our biggest regrets tend to be things we didn’t do rather than things we did do. This suggests people regret inaction more than action. The fear of potential regret can sometimes prevent us from taking risks or pursuing opportunities.

Regrets about youth tend to diminish with age. As people get older, they report their regrets as less troubling and intense. This could be because aging provides more life experiences to gain perspective. Older adults also tend to be more future oriented than dwelling on the past.