I missed the National Coming Out Day because I was down and out with fever post my chemotherapy but here is a thread for people who aren't from the LGBTQIA+ spectrum to keep in mind about a few things when someone comes out to you about their gender/ sexual identity 1/n

1)Coming out is difficult and terrifying. We often prepare for these for months, if not years. To stand up in a heteronormative world which constantly tries to invisibilize us and declare with pride and power that this is who we are. And that takes incredible courage. 2/n

2) It is not about you, we don't owe you our identity.
3) Express support and protection. If someone comes out to you, that means they trust you. That is sacred, very personal information so appreciate that they feel comfortable sharing it with you. 3/n

4) Respect our privacy. Just because a queer person tells you about their queer identity does NOT automatically mean the information is now public to everyone.
5) We know ourselves best. Our identities don't depend on others' opinions of our identity. 4/n

6) We are just people. It is so easy to see someone who has a different sexuality or gender history from you as weird or different but in reality, we are still just people.
7)Coming out never ends, many people have to come out continuously to claim their identity. 5/n

And lastly:
8) Educate yourself and be careful asking questions. Your queer friend is not your queer encyclopedia. Use the internet to recognize that it is not on the queer person to educate you on everything LGBTQIA+ related.

Thank you for attending my TED Talk. FIN!