National Coming Out Day
Since it's National Coming Out Day, I felt there was no better time to tell my story than now. Many of the people in my life know this already but, just to be clear to everyone who doesn't know yet, I'm gay. To some, it may be surprising and to many, not much of a shock but I guess it's just better to get it out there.
I honestly don't have much of a coming out story, actually, the simplicity of it all might bore you a bit. To my immediate family, I never officially came out and I was, more or less, pulled out of the closet. On a rather uneventful day, during a little gathering of the family, my father decided to ask me if I were gay or not. Just to put whatever rumors he's been hearing to rest.
Despite the ideal opportunity just there in front of me, I have to admit; the stress and sweating were still there. With a dash of nervousness, it was still a rather scary moment and, as everything slowed down, my mind going a million miles an hour, I thought to myself if I am not honest now, when will I ever be?
So, as everything slowly caught up towards my speeding mind, I just nodded and said yes. I was out, for my immediate family anyways, and was ready to take whatever consequence that came with it. To my surprise, there wasn't any; there was no yelling, no argument, just the disappointment of me not telling them sooner. That was what my dad was most disappointed about and I get it.
My family has supported us in everything that we have done and wanted to do in life. So, why I thought it was going to be different about this situation... I really don't know. Thankfully, they are supporting and, since then, I have been able to be the best version of myself.
I guess that's what I want to tell everyone. Since I came out to my family, I have been able to be myself in ways I couldn't have imagined. It was like this weight got lifted off my shoulders and I could finally live again.
I have yet to truly experience life as an openly gay person and I have no idea how things are over there. But, as someone who has grown up there and lived most his life there, I would love to help do my part in being someone that young people could look up to and be the better versions of themselves – because then you are truly happy. Don't allow your sexual orientation to define who you are as a person or what you can do in life. Just be you and everything else will simply fall into place.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this blogpost are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official views of Phryme Magazine.