I wish more people, young or old, had someone to tell them this when they were struggling with the idea of coming out. So many people are scared to come out of the closet, without knowing that they really don't have to.
The value of coming out is that if folks accept you for who they perceive you are it’s important for them to really know who you are, if they support you hopefully they will support others as well.
Great realistic perspective on living in a world where people often don't understand your personal life. That is, be what YOU want to be while respecting others.
I know a few friends and have a relative that came out and it was rather horrible. My relative didn't expect her mom to go crazy psycho, its always good to know the mental health of your parents. Her dad took mom's side and the whole family was told she joined a cult. Harrison Buttker's dad but him in conversion torture camps twice.
I came out to my closest family, and they already knew. My brothers said they always knew and were just waiting for me to figure it out. It was very underwhelming. Needless to say, I haven't come out to everyone and do not intend on doing so.
Love your point about how we're not obligated to come out to everyone, as our queerness is really something that we are allowed to keep as privately or openly as we wish. I know what it is like to have people find out I am queer from an outside source and feel betrayed as if I was supposed to have told them, and while I can understand the sentiment that it can feel a bit hurtful when people keep something from you that they have to tell others, it is nonetheless important to realize that those of us who have a vulnerable identity must be very careful about whom we share it with so as to avoid that aspect of ourselves unnecessarily becoming our entire persona, as well as the potential ostracization that could arise.
Hahahaaah I LOL-ed at this part 🤣🤣 And yes, in this Pride month some people may feel inclined to come out, but it is your own choice; always listen to your heart!
It's a very "place of privilege", thing from my point of view, to be able to hold this view. Canada is a much more accepting place than much of the US. I'm middle-aged, so I grew up in a different world, but I hope this can be universal one day. In my "world", it's still necessary to plan to come out, depending on your situation. Some literally have to disappear so no one they are related to will ever find them. My parents died before I would have been in a safe condition to be out. Coming out is still necessary when just "being who you are" isn't a nonchalant thing. If you live somewhere that the population at large is not bigoted, that's fantastic. Coming out, for the rest of us, is necessary for a number of reasons. It's like being on each side of a dividing line. Think about it this way. Being private is lovely. Being outed is horrible, but so is your family finding when you didn't tell them. Controlling how the exposure happens could prove vital to the lives of a lot of people.
I like this video. You remind me a bit of myself when I was closer to your age. Yes, one’s sexuality and who one is attracted is a private matter. That said, it can be a bit annoying where people such as family friends or co-workers ask you if you have a girlfriend. I was never quite sure how to respond. On the one hand, it’s really your own business, so you don’t have to tell the other person that if you were in a relationship it would be with a guy. On the other hand, if you just reply that you’re single, will it leave you feeling awkward, as if you are hiding who you are? I’m in Canada too. Maybe today more people will simply ask if you have a partner, but I doubt that everyone will phrase it this way. I’d really like to hear what you guys think about it?
On the whole I agree one mustn't come out if not ready. But respectfully, please do not make the mistake of overestimating how accepting folks in the west are of the LGBT+ community. One need look no farther than to your southern neighbor, the U.S., or some places in Europe. Visibility doesn't equal acceptance, nor tolerance. And please remember that individual community members encouraging it, even to the point of overzealous about it, is not the same thing as following the advice of organizations serving the community that provide support for either option.
Totally agree. A person's sexuality is their own business and no-one else's. I'm not aware of a LGBT rule book which tells people how they need to live their lives.
