I made the mistake of trying to talk about being bisexual with my mother. I’ll never do it again—not with her or anyone. Because my mother truly did embarrass the heck out of me by saying things like, “You’re not bisexual, you’re just confused,” or “You’re not bi, you’re too young.”

I asked her one time if she’d be disappointed if I turned out to be lesbian. She said yes, in a way, but only because she wants grandchildren. Funny thing is, I have one sister and two brothers. Why does she need to worry about grandchildren? One way or another, she’s getting grandkids.

My mother crushed me by saying those things, and the experience left me wondering: If I can’t talk about being bisexual with my own mother or father, then who CAN I talk to? Not the sex ed teachers at my school. They made ABSOLUTELY NO comments about gays, lesbians, or bisexuals in class, which led to a wave of confusion and false information throughout the school. Kids started saying that ALL gay guys had AIDS, all lesbians had herpes or AIDS and all bisexuals were either gay or lesbian or straight, but not in between.

This is all wrong, and none of the kids even know it. If you try to tell them the truth, then “you’re gay” or “one of them.” The teachers feel embarrassed and ashamed by gay people, so they can’t bring themselves to talk about gay sex in school. And because of this, students tease bisexual or gay students.

It is astounding to me how often gay guys get told they have AIDS, or bisexuals get told they’re gross and confused—and it’s due to lack of proper information. Sex ed in schools should teach students about gay sexuality issues in depth and explain to students that it’s fine to be gay and that you CAN’T get HIV/AIDS JUST from being gay alone.

If schools are going to have sex ed, then they need to cover everything, thoroughly, which apparently my school can’t do. I want to talk about being bisexual or gay. I guess I really am “taboo” for wanting to do that.

Shellie, a 14-year-old Washington resident, is a monthly winner of Sex, Etc.’s recent I’M TABOO Writing Contest. Click here to check out all the teen entries. Want to write a story for Sex, Etc.? Click here!