MONTANA
Billings Gazette
By Cindy Uken
BOZEMAN – As a 13-year-old Catholic boy growing up in Twin Bridges, population less than 400, D Gregory Smith knew he was different from other boys his age.
His hormones were ablaze, kindled by his attraction to other boys and men.
It was the 1970s. There was no Internet. There were no TV characters that seemed to support what he was feeling.
“The only thing I knew was that it seemed wrong because nobody else had those feelings,” said Smith, now 47. “I grew to understand that both church and society frowned on people who were gay and that it wasn’t OK.”
As a young teenager, Smith felt hopeless. He feared he would shame himself and his family if he could not squelch his attraction to other males. He felt there was no place in the world for him.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.