To Members of the LGBTQ Community and Supporters

Once I asked my mom how she would react if I told her I was a lesbian, or if I ever brought a girl home. She told me she would be pretty upset, and of course tried to cover it up by saying SHE didn't really care, but there are others out there who would, and she didn't want me to end up getting hurt.

That's the closest to a "coming out" experiene I think I'll ever have, but from my mom's reaction alone I think it must be one of the most difficult, yet corageous, things a person can do. Whether you're a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or just questioning your sexual orientation/identity, you can never truly predict how someone will react when you tell them that you're not quite what they thought you were--especially if you've taken extra measures to stay "in the closet," as it were.

Well, October 11th--today--is National Coming Out Day. If you are still keeping it under wraps: you might not be able to tell everyone (you might not feel ready to tell anyone) but if you can find just one person to talk to, one person that you think you can trust...tell them. It would be amazing if we didn't even need anything like this, if everyone could be free to fully express themselves, sexuality included, but as it is, if you've been holding on to this like it's the world's biggest secret (which in some places, it might need to be. Sad, but true)...don't feel like you have to go through this alone. And hey, if you're really not ready to tell any of your close friends, find your closest gay bar and party like it's 1999.

And if you are a recipient of such news, do your friend a favor. They were extremely brave coming to you, because the fear of losing a friend because they dislike something that you can't change is intense. So put all your prejudices aside, and remember that they're still the same person you always knew and loved, and nothing says that that has to change. (And for the love of god, don't get all paranoid and think they're going to start hitting on you all the time.)

To everyone that has come out: good. Never be ashamed or afraid to be who you are. One of our inalienable rights is the pursuit of happiness: being honest with ourselves and with our friends and family is something we not only should do, but it's something we're entitled to do.

I'd like to close with a quote from the Simpsons episode when the gay parade rolls through town...

"We're here, we're queer: get used to it!" Hehehe.

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