National Coming Out Day
A little story in honor of National Coming Out Day...
I have a new co-worker and I've been tasked with getting him up to speed on the environment we support. In the course of this we've had a lot of interaction. I mentioned I had to leave early last Friday for a appointment with a sleep specialist. We ended up have quite a discussion about sleep apnea, CPAP and such things.
What does this have to do with coming out? He asked if I had someone who "kept an eye on me". So I told him my husband lets me know if there are problems. There was a brief confusion on his part. Maybe he had never met a married gay man before. Maybe he wanted to make sure he heard me correctly. In the end there was understanding. We talked a bit more. We went back to work.
Coming out isn't a one time event. It isn't a check box on the being a self-aware homosexual to-do list. It is an ongoing journey. Each coming out interaction has a moment of hesitation, a wondering moment where I'm unsure how the other person will react. Most turn out to be non-events and for that I am grateful. I did not know 25+ years ago, when I meekly admitted a truth about myself to someone I had only recently gotten to know, that it would have a huge impact on the rest of my life. Embracing my own truth was life changing.
A bit of light reading for those on their own coming out journey.
Human Rights Campaign - Resources page
Safe Schools Coalition
GLSEN - a guide for youth and allies
I have a new co-worker and I've been tasked with getting him up to speed on the environment we support. In the course of this we've had a lot of interaction. I mentioned I had to leave early last Friday for a appointment with a sleep specialist. We ended up have quite a discussion about sleep apnea, CPAP and such things.
What does this have to do with coming out? He asked if I had someone who "kept an eye on me". So I told him my husband lets me know if there are problems. There was a brief confusion on his part. Maybe he had never met a married gay man before. Maybe he wanted to make sure he heard me correctly. In the end there was understanding. We talked a bit more. We went back to work.
Coming out isn't a one time event. It isn't a check box on the being a self-aware homosexual to-do list. It is an ongoing journey. Each coming out interaction has a moment of hesitation, a wondering moment where I'm unsure how the other person will react. Most turn out to be non-events and for that I am grateful. I did not know 25+ years ago, when I meekly admitted a truth about myself to someone I had only recently gotten to know, that it would have a huge impact on the rest of my life. Embracing my own truth was life changing.
A bit of light reading for those on their own coming out journey.
Human Rights Campaign - Resources page
Safe Schools Coalition
GLSEN - a guide for youth and allies