I have recently read the Feb. 4, 2000 issue and was surprised at how those Bear Creek alumni students were harassed during their school years for being gay. I am a senior who happens to be gay. I have not been teased during my two and a half years at Bear Creek after I transferred from St. Mary's. The only thing that ever happens is that I am looked at in a strange way for acting feminine, which I usually do. Last December, I came out to the majority of my friends and they had no problem with it. They accepted me for who I am. I don't know if everyone will accept me, but I am proud to be gay. It doesn't matter what anybody else has to say; I am happy being me. A lot of my other friends may assume or not think at all that I am gay but I am sure that it will not be a problem. I think that students here at Bear Creek need to know that a friend or family member may by gay and they need to learn to accept it and not ridicule anybody for their sexual orientation. I am lucky that I am not harassed here at school. I hope I am reassuring some students here at Bear Creek that it is okay to be gay. Just learn to love yourself for who you are and not what other people want you to be.Michael Wilson, senior