Obligatory NCOD post
Oct. 11th, 2004 11:53 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
judecorpIt's National Coming Out Day, and I don't think there's anyone I haven't come out to. Let's see. I've come out to my parents, grandparents, aunts, uncle, cousin. I've come out to my brother's in-laws and friends. I've come out to my grandparents' friends, to my employers, to my coworkers. I'm out to my landlords, my friends, my neighbors, my clients, my cats. I'm out at the bank, the doctor's office, the life insurance company, my little retirement plan from my UMaine job. I'm out at my graduate school(s), my volunteer efforts, and my community. Is that all? There must be more. The phone company. The car insurance company. The frequent flyer mile people.
I imagine that today is more geared to the Big Whammo Coming Out - you know, parents, friends, etc. But it's funny, because Coming Out sneaks up on you when you're not even thinking about it. Like, you're out at work, but then you get invited to the Company Holiday Extravaganza. Or you're out in your hometown, and then you travel somewhere and suddenly everything is a coming out process - renting a hotel room, boarding the airplane, walking down unfamiliar streets. Or you are waiting in a long line somewhere and the person next to you gets chatty, and eventually they notice your wedding ring and you get The Question: So, what does your husband/wife do? Or you're car/house shopping. And on and on and on.
So today I salute all of the brave, nervous souls who are taking big Coming Out steps. And I encourage each and every one of you to give your acquaintances/friends/family members/loved ones all the support you can, because the reception they receive today is what will give them the strength and resolve to keep doing it, day after day, situation after situation, place after place.
I imagine that today is more geared to the Big Whammo Coming Out - you know, parents, friends, etc. But it's funny, because Coming Out sneaks up on you when you're not even thinking about it. Like, you're out at work, but then you get invited to the Company Holiday Extravaganza. Or you're out in your hometown, and then you travel somewhere and suddenly everything is a coming out process - renting a hotel room, boarding the airplane, walking down unfamiliar streets. Or you are waiting in a long line somewhere and the person next to you gets chatty, and eventually they notice your wedding ring and you get The Question: So, what does your husband/wife do? Or you're car/house shopping. And on and on and on.
So today I salute all of the brave, nervous souls who are taking big Coming Out steps. And I encourage each and every one of you to give your acquaintances/friends/family members/loved ones all the support you can, because the reception they receive today is what will give them the strength and resolve to keep doing it, day after day, situation after situation, place after place.
