Just saw your video for the first time. As a 53 year old gay man, all I can think to say is WOW. I wish there had been videos like yours and others I have seen when I was in my 20s. Those were bad times to be gay [the 80s]. We didn't have any kind of support. Good for you. And good for all the young people posting these positive messages on youtube for others to see. Your helping to make your world a better place than mine was 30 years ago when I was your age. Makes me feel good. Keep it up.
Damn Dude, Russ did it to me again. He recommended your vid. I felt your passion and my eyes are wet. I've been to some of your places. So proud of your courage. Keep growing and loving!
Thank You Kevin for sharing your amazing story. I was brought to your page by Russ (your favorite Gay Marine) and he was completely right of how moving your story was. I came out in 2002 to my mom and it was the longest 2 hours of my life, but in the end she gave me nothing but love and support. I thank you again for your courage and strength in sharing your story. I hope and pray every closeted person gets the opportunity to see and hear your story before making mistake of taking their life.
Thank you Kevin. You have given me a huge amount of hope that one day I'll be able to come out to my family and still live a normal life. Thank you so much.
I've separately told Russ how proud I am of all you guys for putting your thoughts and feelings out there for others to see and from which to draw comfort and support. I see too that you've offered to personally correspond with others, using your experiences to help them through their trials. This just proves the measure of the man you are. Anyone who would turn away from such a great fellow because of this one issue, really would be cutting their nose to spite their own face. BRAVO!
I for one am very proud top have you serve our country and fight for our freedom young man. Thank you. Continue to be the man you are because you have a strength that many speak, of but very few display.
I am a retired YN1 from the Naval Reserves. I am out and I am very proud and honored to know a person like you is serving the country that I live in. Respectfully, Chuck Brewster
This video was inspiring and made me cry because i have been there and i am still struggling with who i am and did have a hard time accepting it and been a difficult time especially with people not being open minded. This video inspires me to want to come out to more people besides my mom and cousin and my two friends who are struggling with accepting themselves to. I think it great that you came out and are not afraid to tell the world who you really are!
Dear Kevin, I could not possibly imagine what it means to come out in a military environment as I never served the country I live in, but I want to send you loads of love and support from Europe for your bravery and the road you have entered to go.... Thanks for being there... the world definately needs people from you.... Georg
First of all, THANK YOU for your service to our country! Secondly, I am so proud of you for being your authentic self. I know it took a TON of guts. That's the way I came out too, on FB in late 2011 and had overwhelming support. Thanks for sharing your story, stay strong and true!
Kevin, I suspect that you have NO idea of how much good your video is doing for young people. I have taught thousands of high school students over the years, and this video is powerful in helping them. I am so proud of you for your principles and your courage to stand up for what is right. I think you are saving lives by your video which is full of truth and love. Thank you!
Awesome story...thank you for sharing! Thank you for your service and for posting this. Seems like we all seem to have similar threads in our stories when it comes to trying to live a life that everyone expects us to lead, while we have suffered inside. I got to the breaking point in 2009, it was very rough for me as I was surrounded by Christians...many turned away from me, but those who really mattered came back around. God bless you!
Eloquent, sensitive, compassionate and courageous. I can't think of anyone I'd rather having defending our precious democracy. You sir are a true hero and an inspiration to all.
Kevin, Thank you for posting this, and giving courage to those of us who are afraid to come out and be ourselves. What better way to tell someone that you love them, by introducing to them, everything that makes you wonderful! Thank you Kevin, for carrying on the legacy of freedom our nation stood for so many years ago! This video, helps instill courage in me! Time to show my loved ones, how much I really love them, by introducing to all of them, me!
Kevin, you are me 19 yrs ago.. I have retired and came out 2 yrs before I retired..I was supported UP the chain to my surprise. Don't EVER throttle that passion. You have no idea yet as to its power. Congrats on now living your life!
I was so happy to run into your video, hope it will help new comers. We had it tough in the old days in the military we were a clandestine society and we had to protect ourselves not to be found out, there were some accepting people but few in between a fellow Navy/Army from the Vietnam era the best for you young man.
I spent four years in the USAF deeply in the closet (1968-72). I am SO GLAD that things are finally open for you folks today. Keep being a good example.
Thank you for coming out and making this video and talking openly about your experience. If it save one person you done a great job. Good luck and keep up the good work.
You "blow me away" my man! You are a complete stand up man! You have made a sand that you sould not ever come down on. You are so right about those you tell standing behind you and those who have a problem drifting off. A lot of that is just life my man.....people will come and people will go. You will know those to keep close and it will come as second nature. Our President is making our country what it should have been a long time ago. Even!
As a AF veteran, I thank you for serving and support you in you RIGHT to be you. I attempted to take my life several years ago for being me. I hope that anyone thinking about doing the same finds your video, it is very inspiring. Everyone has a RIGHT to live pursue happiness, it's nobody's business but theirs and their partners.
Philippe, it's never TOO LATE to be who you are. My uncle finally came out of the closet when he was 56 years old, after raising a family and having grandkids. Was my family surprised? Yes, but did we support him? Of course! I have another uncle who after having 2 kids was able to muster the courage and come out of the closet when he was 30. I was able to come out of the closet when I turned 20 , right before I joined the Navy and here I am 9 years later.
Hey buddy amazingly inspirational video! You seem like such a beautiful human being so many people could take a lesson from you. You truly are an inspiration
Thank you Kevin! Much love to you for sharing truth and overcoming the fear it takes to share and help others in their struggle to be themselves in a sometimes cruel world.
Thank you for your courage and passion. Thank you for sharing your story. As you said, "nothing good comes easy." It was difficult for me to come out at the age of 57, and the journey has had positive and negative twists and turns. Yet, with all that, I can be me. Thank you, Kevin, for giving hope to others who are searching for the courage to come out.
You are a great man Thank you for posting this I am struggling with some of the thing you were talking about you made it so clear im done with being angry with my self and letting it build thank you so much
You're such a great person ! I hope you'll be able to inspire people cause you're so brave and that's amazing ! I wish I could be as strong as you are !
Thank you for a very inspiring video. Thank you also for staying strong even in the darkest hours and for giving now strength to so many people who need it. And, finally, on a personal note, thank you for proving to me that a guy that I find extremely cute and handsome (as I have stated on FB) can also be super beautiful on the inside! The best of luck :)
Kevin...that was one of the most couregous videos I have ever seen. I had to go to therapy to realize who I am. And one day I was singing to a song on the radio and I realized I had excepted who I am and like you I realized I was not ashamed anymore. Thank you so much for your video and I hope we see more of you. With more people like you telling there stories..the world will be a better place.
I'm a 61 year old Canadian, and have been out for 39(!) years. Never looked back. I salute you because these major steps are life-changing and take a lot out of you when you make THE DECISION. (Oh..my father and five brothers were in the army... NOT me... I'm the odd one!) Good luck. Michael from redCHAIRdiaries
THANK YOU for sharing your story with us. You've shared from the depth of your soul and experience, and anyone watching this video will be blessed. I wish you much happiness in the future. God bless you!
Wow! Thank you so much for this inspiring video! I am guessing today was as awesome for you as it was for me! A huge step in the right direction. I am 37 and a lot of people still do not know about me. Between you and Russ, I think it is time for me to just be me and not worry about what others think. Thank you so much for your service! You are going to be an awesome husband to some lucky guy! Much love and respect!
Thank you for the video. Im actually struggling with whether or not i should come out myself. Your video has been helpful to me and i wanted to thank you for putting yourself out there for to try and help people like me. I admire your courage and hope i can find it in myself.
Kevin, well done and well spoken. Amazing how the truth really does set you free. No more hiding, no more lying, no more not living your truth. Not only does it get so much better, it gets so much easier. Looking forward to your next post. I hope you will also post a vid with you and your date at the spring ball.
kevin, i just had the opportunity to watch your video and i can not express to you enough how touched i am by your video. you spoke from the heart so deeply and so honestly. it is about acceptance and love. acceptance and love in others in your life but the most important person you will ever need to accept and love is the one in the mirror that you see looking back at you every morning. b
Thank you, Kevin. Thank you for serving, thank you for sharing, and thank you for the good you are doing for young gays thinking about serving. I found you through russmarine, another hero, just as you are a hero. To see what is possible today for you younger guys just blows me away. Never ever did I dare to dream of this when I was your age. The world has changed so much for the better. Still a long way to go, but with heros like yourself and Russ and all of your generation it will be.
It takes balls to put yourself out there like this. I respect and admire your courage to share your story and want to thank you for your service to our country. The world is a better place because you're here!
So happy you chose to live and learned to love yourself and all that you are Kevin...Wish u a life of peace happiness and contentment. Your strength and your message will inspire and save many young people with such sensitive issues and struggles. Many thanks for your messages and for serving our country. Much support in your efforts for change..
Awesome video bud! You not make me proud to have you fighting for all of us in the armed forces, but I'm honored that you posted this and coming out. Hero in the truest meaning of the word!!!!
Kevin koodos to you for surviving and the blessings your are receving and with this vidieo you will help others to survive and to your continuing growth in your life both public and private~ A Fellow Navy/Marine Corp brother
You are an awesome man. I'm 49-years-old and when I came out back in 1985, I had no role models at the time, many of the things you went through, I went through. Things have changed so much in the last 28 years. Life is going to be great in the future for you. Congrats.
Thanks so much for this video. It’s genuinely inspiring and moving. It’s wonderful to see someone who is so brave and honest. I think this video will help a lot of people who are struggling to accept themselves. I very much hope that life has gone well for you and that you’ve found the acceptance and happiness you so clearly deserve.
You are a damned hero bro. This touched me beyond belief. Came out 1 year ago - went through the same - and I'm incredibly proud of you and proud of myself. Did the same on facebook - it changed my world and made me proud of who I was. I too plan to fight to be viewed as equal. Anyone who knows ME, not "some gay guy," knows I deserve all the same things they do. Like you said, we are men and women, we are not defined by our sexual orientation - and we are equal. Godspeed. You are the man!
You are an amazing and inspirational person who is sharing so much to help this world simply by being your truest self. Courage personified. THANK YOU.
First, thank you for your service. Second, guys like you make me so proud of you! I came out just before I graduated high school in1979 and was ostracized for it. Then the AIDS crisis came along and wiped out most of my friends and my partner. But I have been blessed with friends and co-workers who accepted me, and that has made a
This just brought me to tears. What you said around 14:00 was painful for me, but what you said around 14:30 was awesome. Thank you so much. And, of course, thank you for your service. Please continue to stand up for us. You're a brave individual.
2019 now. Great video & hope you are doing well.Get involved with the Pete Buttigieg for president campaign. A Gay Vet and 37 Harvard educated Mayor of Southbend Indiana recently married and someone we gay men can be proud of.. like being proud of you. Thanks for this video and for your service.You are a credit to our nation!
You are amazing in every facet of the word. I'm more than proud of the steps you are taking to make a difference. I'm proud to know you and can't wait to see what lies ahead in this unstoppable world. Never give up, never lose hope, and never stop being yourself. Trust you heart and what you believe in!!! Did I mention I was proud of you!? You have so many supporters and it will never stop!! We will be here every step of the way!!!
Awesome video! I also had people say that I don't have to tell anyone beyond family and friends. But the more we speak up, the better place the world is going to be.
I am so proud of the young adults like you to have the courage to come out at your age. I myself lived the lie for 53 yrs of life. and came out in 2008. everyone was very supportive. including my 2 adult children, family and most friends/co workers.
Ah, you got me all misty eyed. It took me some time to come out too. It's one of the hardest things. But now you are truly free. I hope your heart stays warm with the joy that true self honesty brings. Wish you a great journey, find a really great guy and be incredibly fulfilled by becoming whole with that special someone! And thanks for finding the strength doing that in the military. Was so happy that a lot of discrimination was put down for you guys. Keep fighting the good fight. Proud of you
