When you come out as queer, so many things happen.
Firstly, you gain so much. You find people who love you for who are, you learn about yourself in ways you never could, and doors open for you that have never been open before. It’s hard to articulate how incredibly liberating and fulfilling it can be to come out to yourself and to the world around you.
Though, in the same breath, there are some doors that you wished would never open. The ones of hate and bigotry. The ones that bring with it the acute awareness of your very own safety, because your safety truly changes when you are publicly queer.
I often think my beautiful, straight friends and family – as open and accepting as they are – don’t understand the amount of hate and prejudice that still exists for me and my kin. In fact, I know they don’t because I hid among them for 27 years before I came out publicly.
But, it is there. It confronts me every day and sometimes I cry to my fiancée about it, because I yearn for justice and fairness for all, and I can’t ever wrap my head around how cruel this world can be to people sometimes.
All of this, and more, is why I cried (more like, sobbed) for an hour after first listening to G Flip’s new song, ‘Be Your Man,’ and while watching Chrishell’s reel, announcing her marriage to G.
