coming out
and the issues at hand

a thread

this thread involves a topic that i have seen repeatedly, over and over again. it has been on my mind for quite a while, but i never personally believed i should say anything.

i'm wondering if i stand corrected.

publically coming out is one of the most difficult things that members of the LGBT community deal with. unfortunately, people are outed without their consent every day . it happens more often than one may initially believe .

as an ally with many close LGBT friends , i have seen it happen first hand. you can feel how much pain surges through someone when something so personal is shared.

it is not a nice feeling.

i've heard time again the age old question, "how can coming out be so difficult? people are so much more accepting nowadays, no one will care." if you're with the right people, they will accept you for who you are.

sadly, however, "more accepting" is simply a comparison, and does not mean "everyone."

the issue with statements along the lines of "just come out already" is that the person targeted is cornered into a situation in which they are being "coerced" to come out of the closet, even if they may not even be LGBT.

satirical or not, statements such as these should not be made. as previously stated, coming out is one of the most difficult decisions someone can make, especially within the LGBTQ community.

members of the LGBTQ community have faced discrimination for much more longer than necessary. it is up to us to be able to show respect for people who are simply trying to be people.

be the change you want to see.

remember: you are not alone and there are resources to help.