Feature Friday with Michael Garcia

Happy Friday y'all! How was your week? What do you have planned this weekend? We're continuing our search for a car for Thomas today, and cleaning the rest of the weekend. We may POSSIBLY be going to Atlanta tomorrow for the March for Our Lives, but we have to make sure we get everything done that we need to!

This week's FF discusses dealing with criticism and why it doesn't affect him, his favorite some at the moment (YES Chris Stapleton), and how you can create your own family who love and accept you for you. We loved reading his responses and going through his pictures and we think you will, too. Take a look below...

Where are you from? Denver, Colorado

Where do you live? I live in Denver Colorado but I will be moving to California in September! Yay!

What’s your Instagram handle? @__MichaelGarcia

Age: 21

Relationship Status: Single. I’m a romantic person and I believe in love and I won’t settle for something that is there to pass the time. I think if a relationship comes I’m not oppose to it but I’m also not looking. I’m focused on my career and building a future for myself.

What is your favorite place you have ever travelled to and why? New York City because it is such a magical place. The environment and energy is amazing! I remember first going there and it was just a whole new world! There was so many different types of people and everyone was so accepting and happy!

Who is your favorite artist at the moment? Cardi B is my favorite! I listening to a variety of music, from country to rap! Haha

Favorite song? Tennessee Whiskey by Chris Stapleton

What is your proudest accomplishment? Proving the haters wrong! The best revenge is success. I would get bullied most of my childhood/teenage years and having those people that said I would never amount to anything see me succeed is the best feeling because I’m able to say you didn’t break me and look how far I have got in life and you’re still stuck in the same place.

How would you describe your home décor style? Modern very simple. I love white with accent colors!

What is something you wish you would’ve known when you were younger? I wish I would’ve known that God is Love. I believed for a long time that God didn’t love me because I was gay. Luckily I made friends with one of my best friends now who taught me that God is love and now I know that I can have faith and trust in God and myself!

What is one thing still left on your bucket list? Going to visit the Eiffel Tower because it’s such a romantic place. Well I heard it was. Lol

How old were you when you came out and what was your experience like? I was 14 years old and it was a pretty traumatic experience. My family wasn’t accepting. It was hard to deal with that at such a young age.

What did you learn about yourself in the coming out process? I learned to love and take care of myself and you are who you surround yourself with. Although my family wasn’t accepting I learned that I can create my own family. Family isn’t blood but it’s the people who love you for you.

Have you faced any backlash or criticism since coming out? I have. As I share my story and make it more known I constantly get hate or criticized. But I think there will always be people out there to try and tear you down. I personally don’t let it affect me. In the past it would. I would think to myself why are they saying that? Why did they make up this rumor? Why aren’t they accepting. But I live my life for me no one else. I love myself and I’m proud of who I am. :)

Who is your biggest inspiration and why? I have two people that inspire me everyday.

My best friend Olivia. She is super women! She taught me to not only love myself but to love others. She taught me what family really meant and I can never repay her for that.