Words cannot adequately express what I've been feeling for the past several days... I have been overwhelmed with everyone's reaction to my coming out. I've cried tears of surprise and appreciation. Thank you all for the comments posted here, Facebook messages, emails, voicemails, texts, and hugs of support. And thanks to those of you who don't really understand who have engaged in genuinely open conversations with me. So many people have been kind and supportive when I expected them to react much differently, and this gives me hope for the future of people like me everywhere!
I hope this is an encouragement to anyone reading who has something they need to tell the world. I know it's scary, but it really can be a positive step in your life! I do realize there are very real reasons for not coming out in some situations, but if you're hiding, please take the time to consider why. This is YOUR life and you deserve to hold your head up high and be exactly who you are. And just think of the impact it would have on our world if all of us were out and proud!!! Can you imagine how differently people would view homosexuality if they knew how many of us they know personally, or had just a glimpse of the important roles we play in their every day lives? Maybe that would diminish the stigma, and allow everyone to view us as exactly what we are: regular people. That's my dream. I want to live in a country where people are people, no matter where they come from, what they look like, or who they love. I want to hold hands with my girlfriend in public, in the middle of the Bible Belt, and not see people uncomfortably avert their eyes, try to quickly distract their kids, or just blatantly look at me like I'm a disgusting, worthless human being.
I believe that day is approaching, but until then... thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you - a thousand times thank you! Thank you for loving me no matter what. Thank you for reconsidering your stance on this issue. Thank you for telling me I have nothing to be ashamed of. Thank you for standing up for me and encouraging me every day. I love you more than you can imagine, and I will never let you forget it. :)
And a special thank you to my dear friend Maggie, who always builds me up and makes me feel so comfortable and so unconditionally loved. Maggie, I don't know that I ever would have accepted myself if not for that monumental conversation in your car on the drive from Denver to your house. You are - without a doubt - one of the most incredible people I've ever had the pleasure of knowing, and I'm so very thankful that you're a part of my life!
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