Confronting his fears

Rick Moelis knew he was different at 15-years-old but didn’t know how to tell anyone.

On Oct. 18, the Lawrence High School class of 1988 alum was invited back to speak to current students about his journey as a gay man by the Manhattan-based organization, Live Out Loud, which is dedicated to inspiring and empowering Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and Queer youth.

After high school, Moelis went on to study film at the University of Wisconsin and then moved to Los Angeles before settling in San Francisco in 1994, the same year he came out to his friends and family, at the age of 24. “My best friend and roommate came into my room one day and said, ‘I know you’re gay, you know you’re gay and you need to let them know you’re gay,’” Moelis said. “It felt like the weight of the world had finally been lifted off my shoulders and thankfully, I had loving and supportive friends and family, but not all people do.”

Junior Valerie Khodorkorskiy thought Moelis’ story was eye-opening. “I know there are some gay students in this school and I hope they can all have a positive outcome like him, because not everyone is so lucky,” she said. “I hope this gives them hope and knowledge about what to do.”

Moelis said he can still recall many of the wonderful moments from his time at Lawrence High. “We had no cell phones or Internet — I don’t know how we survived back then,” he told students. “Our class just celebrated our 25th reunion and I’m still friends with most of the friends I had in high school. I have great memories.”

After Moelis, the president of his own corporate event planning company, finished speaking, students were able to ask him questions about his profession, how he came out to his friends and family and what to do if students are being bullied because of their sexual orientation.

Jordan Fredericks, a junior, said his peers have mostly accepted those who have come out, though a few have made fun of them. “They have to accept that they are homosexual and that it’s not right to talk about them,” he said. “They’re no different from straight people and should be able to do the same things that we can.”

Another junior, Maxine Kastriner, said she believes it’s not as difficult for her peers to come out now as it was for Moelis. “I don’t think people can judge them for their sexuality,” she said. “Everyone should feel comfortable about coming out and that they won’t be judged.”

Though bias still exists and there are occasional acts violence against gay people, Moelis said times have changed since he was that teenager who didn’t understand how express himself. “It’s amazing how far we’ve come,” Moelis said. “It’s all about confronting your fears and the anxiety will go away.”