Growing up in South Carolina: Being a Democrat

Laura Moshier

COLUMBIA, SC—Where I live, if a teenage boy doesn’t have a Donald Trump sign hanging somewhere in his bedroom, I am shocked. When I go to a friend’s house, there is almost always a gun in the house. And while many people I know are not necessarily homophobic, they do not necessarily support the LGBTQ community. These are just things I have gotten used to living in Columbia, South Carolina for the past 15 years. 

I am young, and my views and opinions of the world are still developing. Because of this, I would not strictly define myself as either a republican or a democrat. Although I tend to lean towards more democratic views, I would say I remain happily in the middle, listening to both sides.

However, since I do live in a city filled with many republicans, I am typically surrounded by republican ideas. I often get judged for thinking differently or stating my opinions because they are opposed. Sometimes, at my school and in general, I am somewhat forced to agree with conservative ideas. For instance, during the past pride month, I wore a pin with a rainbow on it. A classmate of mine that I knew texted me later in the day and proceeded to explain why I should not even own a rainbow pin because people might get the wrong idea and think that I am gay. I told him that I was, in fact, straight, but I was supporting both pride month and my friends who are homosexual. I got a very long lecture about how homosexuality is not how love is supposed to be and that no one is actually gay but instead confused. Although I did not agree with this, we wrapped up the conversation with a simple, “You have your opinions and I have mine.” 

Over the years, I have learned that conflicting views and opinions are okay but having the bravery to be the odd-one-out gives you a voice to share your ideas with others. I used to hate being different from my friends and family but now I embrace it. I am proud to be a different voice standing up for what I believe in.