Come out, come out, whatever you are. Or are not. Or whatever.

October 11, 2011

It’s National Coming Out Day¹, folks!

I am a happy and well-adjusted gay woman, and I’m lucky enough to have a really boring coming out story. I was 14. I had separate conversations with each of my parents. Each acknowledged that the conversation was a little awkward and difficult, but they each asked thoughtful and intelligent questions, listened carefully to what I had to say, and wrapped up each conversation making sure I knew I was loved and supported.

It was very close to ideal.

Stories like mine are getting less rare, but they sure aren’t commonplace. Or maybe they are, and you just never hear about them because they don’t make good stories. Either way, every GLBTQA² person deserves a boring story like mine in which their coming out is a nonevent. It’s not a scandal, it’s not dramatic, it’s just a fact. That’s why we have Coming Out Day.

It’s not just for queermos, folks. It’s for everyone who’s not a jackass about GLBTQA issues. It’s just as important for allies to come out as allies. Maybe your douchebag uncle will think twice about slurring at the neighbor kid once you’ve made it clear that you won’t stand for that behavior. Maybe your closeted coworker will invite you out for Coffee when she sees the HRC sticker on your water bottle.

I’m going to make a logical leap here, and you’re going to come with me on it:

By being out as a clearly supportive ally, you, personally, yes, you, specifically: you could save a life.

Happy Coming Out Day, kids. Go teach somebody not to be an ass.

It’s actually international. Lots of other countries celebrate it today, and apparently the Brits celebrate it tomorrow. Just to be contrary, I guess. ↩
I know you know this already, but let’s review: gay, lesbian (which I consider interchangeable with “gay”, but not everyone does), bisexual, trans*, queer, questioning, asexual, ally. ↩

8:57am | URL: http://tmblr.co/ZA-nTyAYQucZ

(Notes: 156)