National Coming Out Day

jac · 10-12-2012, 05:50 AM

In the past years I have participated in rallies and peaceful protests... One year I made a poster that I still have propped by my stairwell leading to my bedroom. It's a constant reminder that everyday is a Coming Out Day for me and that I will always be a supporter and mentor for our struggling "family member" on their journey out. Funny thing... it's almost like another birth canal entrance into the world, a rebirthing, so to speak.

I'm a firm believer of live by example and so with that said, I present myself to the world with a positive assurance that I am "out" and I am not going back into the closet ever again. Not that this was how I felt or acted all of my life but it has been a little over 10 years for me now. I came out when I was 35... 2001.

10-12-2012, 07:31 AM

Thanks to those who recognised it as International Coming Out Day. Being gay/queer/homo et al happens all over the globe, not just North America. I know, I know it's an american website. Anyhoo, my thanks again for thinking of those outside your own shores too.

[RAMBLE]As a person who has been un/fortunate enough to live a very alternative lifestyle for most my adult life I've been cocooned and protected from homophobia in it's institutional and insidious hidden forms, for the most part.

I happened to watch the episode of Glee last night where the football bully dude tried to hang himself after he was outed. It started me off thinking about being at school myself and the whispers/judgemental comments from the adults around me about two 'gay' (I struggle with that word) teachers at my primary and junior school (ages 5-11). I thought those teachers were just like every other adult but the adults around me seemed to believe they were different. It's only as an adult that I can imagine how it must have felt to be whispered about and judged.

At senior school (ages 11-16) I also recalled the sneering way kids would talk about 'queers and poofs'. One particular event sticks in my mind clearly. I was 12 and two girls were parading around the halls holding hands and kissing each other. Much laughter and disgust followed them as they fun out of being lezzer/lesbo/lezzo. I can recall how the me inside cowered and hid away because I knew, knew right at that point, that the 'difference' I'd always felt was because I like girls in the way they were making fun of...I knew I needed to hide it and protect myself. It took another 14yrs to officially come out having just turned 26 in January 1990

Some 20odd years later I see young people who do come out in their teens and can live a life that is true to who they are. I also see kids who still feel they can't come out. Homophobia in communities is still there. I'm lucky enough to live in a town where the gay population is large and is also an hour away from one of the big 'gay' cities.

For those who live in small, provincial places, gay fellowship is still hard to find and homophobia looms large.

Yesterday I thanked all those that have gone before us that have suffered, fought and kept on fighting just so people like us can continue to come out.[/RAMBLE]

So much has changed and there is so much change yet to come.

10-12-2012, 05:50 AM	#1
jac Timed Out - Permanent How Do You Identify?: butch stone Preferred Pronoun?: masculine ones work best... Relationship Status: ♥ engaged to spritz ♥ Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: bangor, maine Posts: 3,344 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 20,720 Thanked 16,492 Times in 2,972 Posts Rep Power: 0	In the past years I have participated in rallies and peaceful protests... One year I made a poster that I still have propped by my stairwell leading to my bedroom. It's a constant reminder that everyday is a Coming Out Day for me and that I will always be a supporter and mentor for our struggling "family member" on their journey out. Funny thing... it's almost like another birth canal entrance into the world, a rebirthing, so to speak. I'm a firm believer of live by example and so with that said, I present myself to the world with a positive assurance that I am "out" and I am not going back into the closet ever again. Not that this was how I felt or acted all of my life but it has been a little over 10 years for me now. I came out when I was 35... 2001.

10-12-2012, 07:31 AM	#2
Daktari Guest Tournaments Won: 1 Posts: n/a My Photo Gallery	Thanks to those who recognised it as International Coming Out Day. Being gay/queer/homo et al happens all over the globe, not just North America. I know, I know it's an american website. Anyhoo, my thanks again for thinking of those outside your own shores too. [RAMBLE]As a person who has been un/fortunate enough to live a very alternative lifestyle for most my adult life I've been cocooned and protected from homophobia in it's institutional and insidious hidden forms, for the most part. I happened to watch the episode of Glee last night where the football bully dude tried to hang himself after he was outed. It started me off thinking about being at school myself and the whispers/judgemental comments from the adults around me about two 'gay' (I struggle with that word) teachers at my primary and junior school (ages 5-11). I thought those teachers were just like every other adult but the adults around me seemed to believe they were different. It's only as an adult that I can imagine how it must have felt to be whispered about and judged. At senior school (ages 11-16) I also recalled the sneering way kids would talk about 'queers and poofs'. One particular event sticks in my mind clearly. I was 12 and two girls were parading around the halls holding hands and kissing each other. Much laughter and disgust followed them as they fun out of being lezzer/lesbo/lezzo. I can recall how the me inside cowered and hid away because I knew, knew right at that point, that the 'difference' I'd always felt was because I like girls in the way they were making fun of...I knew I needed to hide it and protect myself. It took another 14yrs to officially come out having just turned 26 in January 1990 Some 20odd years later I see young people who do come out in their teens and can live a life that is true to who they are. I also see kids who still feel they can't come out. Homophobia in communities is still there. I'm lucky enough to live in a town where the gay population is large and is also an hour away from one of the big 'gay' cities. For those who live in small, provincial places, gay fellowship is still hard to find and homophobia looms large. Yesterday I thanked all those that have gone before us that have suffered, fought and kept on fighting just so people like us can continue to come out.[/RAMBLE] So much has changed and there is so much change yet to come.