IDENTITY

Last week, October 11, 2011, was National Coming Out Day. To support this holiday Identity held a Behind The Rainbow Wall discussion called “Taking Off the Mask.” In this discussion the ones that felt safe to share told their stories of  coming out and the out comes and the reactions of the ones they told. I shared a very small part of my story but to go into depth will show you what type of discussion we were engaged in today.

This January 2011, I was just finally coming to terms fully with who I was as a person. No one in my family but my sister really knew that I was gay. She really said she accepted me but her reactions in the summer showed her true colors. Meaning she showed me she really didn’t accept me. finally I decided that it was time for me to tell the rest of my family. So I couldn’t tell them with my own voice so I put it through a message sent through facebook. The message was met with harsh comments, disowning, and hatred.

I soon realized that my family that I thought would love me no matter what would never feel the same again. So I told my Grandmother and she immediately accepted me for who I was and has supported me ever since. I know people don’t always accept you for who you are and even the ones you love can be that way to. In order to have gotten through this ordeal i relied on my friends and the many relationships I had. I soon realized that I was getting into relationships only because I wanted the love that I lost out on from my own family. Finally the past 4 months I have slowed everything down and realized that was because I wasn’t loved enough. Now a days I rely on the ones that support me and show me the respect that every individual of the LGBTQ community asks for. Even though that coming out is hard once you do it does get better. You will find friends that will soon become like family. You will find places that will support you. There is people all around you that you have not yet met but will because you will realize there are more people out there in the world just like you who already understands you very well and most likely been in the same predicament.

This is one of the stories for supporting the National Coming Out Day. Share your stories in comments or visit Identity in Binghamton, NY if you would like to meet new people that are just like you or you are an ally to any LGBTQ individuals. The website for more information on this place is http://www.idyouth.org/

Please leave comments and i will get back to you if you would like advice or just want someone to hear your story. =)