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1.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏳️🌈" title="Regenbogen-Flagge" aria-label="Emoji: Regenbogen-Flagge">It’s National Coming Out Dayhttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏳️🌈" title="Regenbogen-Flagge" aria-label="Emoji: Regenbogen-Flagge">
A couple thoughts from me:
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏳️🌈" title="Regenbogen-Flagge" aria-label="Emoji: Regenbogen-Flagge">Coming out is personal and it’s a journey. We actually don’t owe anyone an explanation.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏳️🌈" title="Regenbogen-Flagge" aria-label="Emoji: Regenbogen-Flagge">Don’t rush it if you’re not ready.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏳️🌈" title="Regenbogen-Flagge" aria-label="Emoji: Regenbogen-Flagge">If you decide to come out, it doesn’t have to be anything official or grand.
A couple thoughts from me:
2.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏳️🌈" title="Regenbogen-Flagge" aria-label="Emoji: Regenbogen-Flagge">Heterosexual people don’t have to come out. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="💡" title="Elektrische Glühbirne" aria-label="Emoji: Elektrische Glühbirne">
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏳️🌈" title="Regenbogen-Flagge" aria-label="Emoji: Regenbogen-Flagge">Labels put people in a box sometimes. You do not fit in any particular box. That’s OK.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏳️🌈" title="Regenbogen-Flagge" aria-label="Emoji: Regenbogen-Flagge">Your health & safety is a priority so try to surround yourself with support. Seek help if you’re stuck. There are some orgs online.
3.
PARENTS
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏳️🌈" title="Regenbogen-Flagge" aria-label="Emoji: Regenbogen-Flagge">Just my 2 cents: don’t pressure your children to come out.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏳️🌈" title="Regenbogen-Flagge" aria-label="Emoji: Regenbogen-Flagge">Create an environment where they would feel comfortable doing it on their own when the time is right.
PARENTS
4.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏳️🌈" title="Regenbogen-Flagge" aria-label="Emoji: Regenbogen-Flagge">People stay in the closet for a reason. This world is UNKIND to say the least. Gay jokes, violence, homophobia, Bible verses about abominations, & shame are just a few reasons.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏳️🌈" title="Regenbogen-Flagge" aria-label="Emoji: Regenbogen-Flagge">It’s therefore INSULTING to ask, “Why didn’t you tell me?!” If & when your loved one does.
5.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏳️🌈" title="Regenbogen-Flagge" aria-label="Emoji: Regenbogen-Flagge">Speaking personally, I always knew I was gay. Always. I didn’t always know what to call it but I knew.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏳️🌈" title="Regenbogen-Flagge" aria-label="Emoji: Regenbogen-Flagge">There is no day in kindergarten when kids decide if they are straight. Same goes for gay kids. It ain’t a choice.
6.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏳️🌈" title="Regenbogen-Flagge" aria-label="Emoji: Regenbogen-Flagge">I had girlfriends and dated girls to try and fit in. Girls are hot. But, I did it to make my family proud & to impress my guy friends.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏳️🌈" title="Regenbogen-Flagge" aria-label="Emoji: Regenbogen-Flagge">The alternative was ridicule.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏳️🌈" title="Regenbogen-Flagge" aria-label="Emoji: Regenbogen-Flagge">Even though I knew I was gay, I struggled throughout my childhood, teens and early 20s to accept it.
7.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏳️🌈" title="Regenbogen-Flagge" aria-label="Emoji: Regenbogen-Flagge">My childhood was mostly anxiety and shame—hiding behind a smile.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏳️🌈" title="Regenbogen-Flagge" aria-label="Emoji: Regenbogen-Flagge">My teens were denial denial denial with a dash of RAGING HORMONES.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏳️🌈" title="Regenbogen-Flagge" aria-label="Emoji: Regenbogen-Flagge">My early 20s were acceptance but torturous silence & loneliness.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏳️🌈" title="Regenbogen-Flagge" aria-label="Emoji: Regenbogen-Flagge">It was all for survival & I’m tough as shit for it.
8.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏳️🌈" title="Regenbogen-Flagge" aria-label="Emoji: Regenbogen-Flagge">I did a lot of things to prove I was a “real man”.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏳️🌈" title="Regenbogen-Flagge" aria-label="Emoji: Regenbogen-Flagge">I went to the Naval Academy (yes to serve my country and be a leader but also to prove I was good enough.)
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏳️🌈" title="Regenbogen-Flagge" aria-label="Emoji: Regenbogen-Flagge">I overachieved, especially physically, to compensate for my insecurity.
9.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏳️🌈" title="Regenbogen-Flagge" aria-label="Emoji: Regenbogen-Flagge">I became a master of deception; putting a smile on when I was slowly being eaten alive by fear.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏳️🌈" title="Regenbogen-Flagge" aria-label="Emoji: Regenbogen-Flagge">Fear of what? Being outed by the dreaded question: “Are you gay”?
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏳️🌈" title="Regenbogen-Flagge" aria-label="Emoji: Regenbogen-Flagge">My life was consumed by avoiding this question, doing everything I could to throw people off “the scent”.
10.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏳️🌈" title="Regenbogen-Flagge" aria-label="Emoji: Regenbogen-Flagge">I got away with it for the most part. The older I got, the more challenging it became.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏳️🌈" title="Regenbogen-Flagge" aria-label="Emoji: Regenbogen-Flagge">The Naval Academy was the most challenging 4 years of my life.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏳️🌈" title="Regenbogen-Flagge" aria-label="Emoji: Regenbogen-Flagge">Then I became a US Marine and it was even MORE challenging. To be continued...https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😅" title="Lächelndes Gesicht mit offenem Mund und Angstschweiß" aria-label="Emoji: Lächelndes Gesicht mit offenem Mund und Angstschweiß">
11.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏳️🌈" title="Regenbogen-Flagge" aria-label="Emoji: Regenbogen-Flagge">I had some peace of mind only because I convinced myself that “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was my cover from the dreaded question. I felt safe because I didn’t have to talk about my sexuality.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏳️🌈" title="Regenbogen-Flagge" aria-label="Emoji: Regenbogen-Flagge">When DADT was repealed in 2011, I was shook.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏳️🌈" title="Regenbogen-Flagge" aria-label="Emoji: Regenbogen-Flagge">More details later...
12.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏳️🌈" title="Regenbogen-Flagge" aria-label="Emoji: Regenbogen-Flagge">I told one single Marine (a dear friend) that I was gay upon my departure from the Marine Corps right before I left active duty in 2015.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏳️🌈" title="Regenbogen-Flagge" aria-label="Emoji: Regenbogen-Flagge">That friend embraced me & felt honored that I confided in him. It was not the reaction I expected but it was so relieving & welcome.
13.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏳️🌈" title="Regenbogen-Flagge" aria-label="Emoji: Regenbogen-Flagge">I have more but just to wrap it up, coming out is very terrifying. It’s also liberating.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏳️🌈" title="Regenbogen-Flagge" aria-label="Emoji: Regenbogen-Flagge">It’s also not a one time thing. Every new job I get, I have to test the waters and basically come out again. The good news is that it gets easier.
14.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏳️🌈" title="Regenbogen-Flagge" aria-label="Emoji: Regenbogen-Flagge">Getting older means you give less fucks. And so at age 34, I’m pretty comfortable with being me. I couldn’t always say that.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏳️🌈" title="Regenbogen-Flagge" aria-label="Emoji: Regenbogen-Flagge">I feel like my struggles have made me extra resilient.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏳️🌈" title="Regenbogen-Flagge" aria-label="Emoji: Regenbogen-Flagge">I know what challenges are.
You can’t really break me. I’m one of the lucky ones.
You can’t really break me. I’m one of the lucky ones.
15.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏳️🌈" title="Regenbogen-Flagge" aria-label="Emoji: Regenbogen-Flagge">I am successful, employed, & college educated. I like movies, some sports, and working out. I love music, baked goods, and vacations. I really dig outer space.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏳️🌈" title="Regenbogen-Flagge" aria-label="Emoji: Regenbogen-Flagge">I pay my taxes on time and try to contribute to society.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏳️🌈" title="Regenbogen-Flagge" aria-label="Emoji: Regenbogen-Flagge">I just HAPPEN to find dudes attractive.
16.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏳️🌈" title="Regenbogen-Flagge" aria-label="Emoji: Regenbogen-Flagge">Being yourself beats being someone else anytime and if the people in your life truly care about you, they will appreciate the real you.
Whether your gay, bi, or a little curious sometimes, just be you.
It’s OK.
Whether your gay, bi, or a little curious sometimes, just be you.
It’s OK.
Not your...you’re*
Ugh.https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😅" title="Lächelndes Gesicht mit offenem Mund und Angstschweiß" aria-label="Emoji: Lächelndes Gesicht mit offenem Mund und Angstschweiß"> damn it. Thread ruined.
Ugh.
