Hello, my name is Keith Moore I am 37 and this is my first attempt at a higher education. I am a twin, my brother happens to be three minutes older than me, alongside four other brothers and one sister. My father was a pastor so I grew up in church. when I first knew I liked men, I was very hesitant with whom I shared that information because if it had gotten back to my father, I would have gotten beat! I can still remember a sermon he preached on gays and said “None of his sons better ever come home saying they like men”, as I began to sink in my sit feeling like everyone knew it was me. this put a huge wedge between my father and my relationship. With recurring comments he would make about gays, not knowing his own son was gay, made me feel unsafe and like I had no one to go to. I was seventeen, newly graduated from high school, and newly homeless once my mother had gotten word that I was gay by my ex girlfriend. My father had recently passed from colon cancer, her favorite sentence was “Your dad is probably turning in his grave “.she then put me out. Sleeping in my car I was hopeless, helpless, and needed much guidance. I became ashamed and embarrassed of who I was. The LGBTQ community welcomed me with open arms. they fed me, clothed me, gave me comforting words of encouragement, and let me know that I was loved. The LGBTQ community is where I found myself, and the kind of help I needed to survive. They helped shape me into the man I am today. The LGBTQ community has impacted my life detrimentally, if I had not met the people of my community when I did I would be a lost soul. I am attending Grand Canyon University to receive a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Counseling with an Emphasis on Addiction, Substance Abuse, and Chemical Dependency. I chose to go this route to help my community with mental health issues and with issues of substance abuse, addiction, and chemical dependency. Through the years I have watched several friends pass away due to carelessness negligence and simply not having the proper support in place when they needed it the most. I am going to help my extended family and be the best counselor for the LGBTQ community we have ever had access to.

Recess Is Over ! August 25th 2008, the day I received a phone call I’ll never forget! My aunt screaming to the top of her lungs “God No Please “…. As I continued to listen to her cry out, she came back and said Kevin is gone, he’s gone.. I asked what’s going on? She stated “ I came into the garage because I noticed I didn’t hear the door close, as I turned the corner into the garage Kevin is hanging by an orange extension cord from the ceiling of the garage! I begin to panic, but tried my best to keep it together for her. This was my favorite cousin. He had two kids living there with them and I was altogether lost! I asked what happened she screamed I don’t know I don’t know! I told him everything would be ok but he’s been acting strange over the past week. I’m trying to get him down from this extension cord Keith I need help! 911 is on the way she said but I need to try what I can. “ I’ve got him down” ( she cut the cord) she began giving him cpr but my relative was still unresponsive… she kept yelling Kevin please, don’t give up please try and fight ! This is your mother I know you don’t mean this! Much to our surprise he didn’t make it! By this time I had made to my aunts and saw my cousins lifeless body laying in between the garage and outside walkway! I stood there looking at him crying and in disbelief, I wanted to shake him! I yelled at him to get up as if he were playing a joke! I didn’t understand, how he could do this. There was no coming back and my heart would have to deal with a forever loss of an amazing relative& friend. I’ve had countless conversations with my friends and family to help with how I feel and loosing him. I’ve saw counselors and spoke with religious leaders, who tell me to pray and keep him close in heart and mind. As time has gone by it’s been a little easier to deal with but the pain still hurts as if it happened yesterday! By keeping our word that we gave one another I will keep his name alive!!! I have finally found strength and courage to carry out what I promised which is obtaining a college degree. I graduated Highschool in 2003, started school and when he died I completely stopped I was sad, angry, and depressed. I didn’t want to do things that I knew I should be doing with the time waisted each year went by without putting action toward my main goal which is a college education. I am now attending Grand Canyon University and am enrolled in their Bachelor of Science in Counseling with an Emphasis in Addiction, Chemical Dependency, and substance Abuse. My relative had some issues with depression, he was also institutionalized and made a statistic. His quote “ RECESS IS OVER”! has become one of my favorite, to remind myself that life isn’t about games and waisting time, but about handling business that will set you up in a way that your future will be Great!