A Girl Named Ariella

Every once in a while, I would receive emails that touch my heart and inspire me to do more. The comment below is a gift from a friend. She is a friend that I have not met. She is a very intelligent person and from what she shared in her message, I can see that she has a heart of gold and is destined for greatness. To my new friend, Ariella, I wish you all the best that the world can offer.

 

Name: Ariella
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From looking at your site I think that you are a great person.  I think you are a great role model for many people, and you provide hope for many too.  I'm happy for you in that you were able to overcome your problems.  I think that it is fabulous that you spend so much of your time helping others, especially others that are going through the same thing that you went through.  If that is a picture of you at the bottom-right corner of your site then I have to say....you are a very pretty woman.  Yes that is what I believe you are contrary to the beliefs of others.  You know, when I first visited your website I didn't even know what it was about.  I thought it was one of those online diary things.  It was when I started reading the articles on your site that I found out you were a male at birth.  But the word that you used a lot ...transgender.  I don't like that word.  I believe you are truly a woman.  And you seem like such a wonderful person to be around and a great friend.  I think what you are doing is great.  Standing up for gays, transgenders, people with HIV and everything.  Its hard to put the way I feel about you into words.  I am sorry that you're father is having trouble accepting you.  But he is missing out on a lot that's for sure.  I have a gay uncle that is HIV positive and I know that his mother (my grandmother) was far from happy about it.  Her sadness lasted a couple of days.  He is closer to our family now more than ever.  He didn't have problems with his father, because he was never around much.  My grandparents were divorced and my grandfather stayed back in Guatemala.  I just can't imagine what kind of discrimination you face every day of your life.  I guess coming from a Hispanic background I kind of face discrimination.  I guess its not that bad as yours but it hurts.  It hurts to know that people in my future will not like me, hire me for a job because of my background.  But those people are ignorant, and I pity them.  The only think I say that gets on my nerves are the stereo types that people have on Hispanics.  Unfortunately my friend faces even worse discrimination.  He is 14 (or 15 that's horrible that I can't remember his exact age) years old.  By the way I am 14 years old also.  He came out the closet in September of 2004.  I have been friends with him since 6th grade.  I can truly say he is a good friend and a funny one too.  But at school people always talk about him.  They try to talk about him with me.  Some of them even tell me that they cant stand him, because he is gay.  Those people have never spoken a word to him.  How can I help people stop hating on him?  Is there hope for people like that?  Anyway I just wanted to tell you what a great person I think you are.  You truly inspire me to become a better person in all aspects of my life.  Good Luck and I hope you have great long lasting life...You deserve one!