Iwazo
Legacy Name: Iwazo

Hi! My name is Iwazo! That's Eewah-Zoo.

Now let's see ... I'm twenty seven, I'm addicted tokiwi sherbet, I love the beach (even though I burn easily) and I'm as camp as a row of pink tents. And 'causeof that, folks think I'm not particularly bright. I'malso completely, wonderfully, horrifically in love withDem, who won't even give me the time of day. Nomatter! I'm fine with looking from afar for the timebeing.

I was the first member of the "family" and though I
don't act it, I'm the oldest one here (with the exceptionof Seda, our not-so-unofficial mother). Most of the family thinks that I am too childish, or that if I wereto be left alone, I would die on the streets within aweek. I let them think that way, because it is easiest.And because I really am a happy and silly personmost days.

But back then ... before there was a family, things wererough..

I was just another statistic. A teenager, out on thestreets because his parents didn't want a gay son. I could say that I miss my parents, but that's not true.

How can you miss the people who threw you out likeyesterday's trash? I missed having a bed, clean clothes, and a hot meal, but I didn't miss them. I missed beinga kid. Out on the streets, you gotta look out foryourself. No one else was going to. You had to growup quick.

But just like the kid I was, I couldn't keep my mouthshut. I guess I had something to prove. Not sure windingup with a ton of bruises and three broken ribs provedmy point, but I wasn't about to let a group of biggotscall me those things and get away with it.

That's when Seda found me. I was covered in dirtand blood and bruises, and she ... well, let's just sayshe thought I was someone else. But she fixed me up and gave me some place to go back to. To call a home.It wasn't easy in the beginning, and I wasn't sure I could ever trust anyone ever again, but I'm glad I did trust Seda. I couldn't wish for a better family.

Of course, I had to get my heart broken, run away, put my life in danger, and pick up a stray before I figured this all out.