"I was raised thinking I'd burn in hell for being gay, but I didn't have a choice. It's just who I am"

This quote by Jai Rodriguez speaks to the struggles of being a part of the LGBTQ+ community. It shows the internal conflict that lots of members of the neighborhood face when they are raised in a society that does not accept them. The quote talks to the idea that being gay is not an option, however rather an intrinsic part of who they are. It likewise talks to the fear and embarassment that many members of the LGBTQ+ neighborhood feel when they are raised in a society that does decline them. This quote is a powerful pointer of the significance of acceptance and understanding of the LGBTQ+ community, and the need for society to acknowledge that being gay is not an option, however rather an inherent part of who they are.