Why Should Anybody Come Out?
When you choose to come out, you align the truth of who you are with what you present to the world which allows you to live authentically. That's the nuts and bolts of it. As I've stated previously, the most important person to come out to is yourself.
The refusal to label it for some can be devastating and may leave a permanent film of self loathing that even a Silkwood shower can't remove.
Many are in denial, some are merely questioning and some know and choose to live closeted lives. The goal for any of us is to be comfortable within our own skins and what steps that entails exactly is different for each of us.
By all means, if you're a school teacher and could lose your job - don't come out at work unless it is more harmful to you emotionally to hide who you are. You have to live by your set of values, not mine and certainly not The Advocate's.
Keep in mind however that by coming out you attach a face, a name, a laugh, a tofu casserole, a soul to the term gay that the neighbor, co-worker, friend can begin to understand and understanding eliminates fear. People who know a gay individual are much more likely to support equal rights.
There's a saying in recovery that goes something like this:
You may be the only example of AA that a person ever meets.
The same is so for you and your sexual orientation.
Is it your responsibility to make such a proclamation so that someone in the future may have it easier because you did? No, it isn't. Does having more of us out help? It absolutely does.
Another perk of coming out is it makes it much easier to meet others in the LGBT community. We all don't live in the bars and by being out you will have more opportunities to socialize.
Just think of the possibilities if you're living out of the closet - you can slap a rainbow sticker on your forehead and loiter around the produce aisle until the one shows up looking for more tofu.
Life is good.
Join us today | Chat & Forums
coming out is def a political act, when more people know queer people they are less likely to be against us
http://www.queersunited.blogspot.com
Reply to this
I love your site! Thanks for stopping by.
Reply to this