I have written and re-written this no less than five times. I will be up front. I hate you. I hate that people like you survived while friends of mine and perfect strangers did not. I hate that you have the breath in your lungs to share your story while many like me will never be able to tell their own with their own voice.

3 years ago, I received an invite to come to a high school reunion. The only thing I could think of and it ended up being my reply, was how much I hated high school and how much I disliked almost the vast majority of my graduating class. I hated them for the things they did and I hated the rest of them for standing by and never once speaking up.

I was a "Drew." And I have met many people just like you were. I learned pain and anguish. My childhood was robbed from me by people like you. And I eventually learned strength as I endured physical and emotional violence from people like you.

My heart was tempered with bloody noses, busted lips, bruised bones, ER visits, crutches, wheelchairs, blood, fire, tears, and metal. And in my hatred of those like you, I tainted my spirit during my enlistment as an infantryman. I used that rate to survive and excel...only to be robbed again, by people like you, through DADT.

After that, I was graced with the presence of people in my life that have walked parallel paths and they took me under their wing to make me better. They made me less violent, but not less angry.

Over the years, I have taken various forms of martial arts. I've even been a competitive amateur fighter. I'm a member of a 1% MC in addition to a member of a number of LGBTQ organizations. I even earned a leather title this year.

But what I couldn't defend back then, I will defend to the death now. There will never be forgiveness from me...and I'm not sorry for that. And you can rest assured that the fear I had in my heart all those years ago? I would gladly repay upon all of those people...And I would repay it upon all like you.