Welcome to Pride Month

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Kay’s Korner

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We have officially entered Pride Month.

This is a time to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community’s victories over oppression, and it is a wonderful time to be out. If you aren’t out yet or are still debating on how you identify, don’t worry. Most of those of us who are out have been there as well. There are plenty of reasons not to come out and if you are closeted, please do not let anyone make you feel like less because of it.

I was in my first year of college when I realized that I was attracted to women. Pretty stereotypical, I know: Small town girl goes off to college in the big city and suddenly everything changes. 

I was in denial for a long time. It was a long road to realization and acceptance. And that was only the battle going on within myself. If I had taken months struggling with my sexuality, what would other people think?

I was out at school before coming out to those closest to me. It was easy to be transparent with people whose opinions I didn’t care much about. 

The people I hung out with casually were some of the first to know.

Next were my long-time, closest friends. Because they are my age and not particularly religious, I felt confident they would be supportive. I was not, however, prepared for one of them to come out as gay as well. Ironic, given that he and I had dated each other.

Then came the difficult part — telling my family. 

I approached almost all of them separately, hoping those I thought would be fine with the news would be there to support me if one of the others reacted badly. I tried to plan ahead, but don’t think I handled it all that well with some of them. I’m sure that it was a huge adjustment for them. They had a picture of me in their mind, and I turned part of that on its head. 

I had deliberated and had accepted myself at that point, and even though I expected it would take time for them to readjust their view of me, I still hoped that it would be as much a non-issue for them as it had become for me.

It turned out that I needn’t have worried as much as I did. They all took it much better than expected. I think that is because they had their suspicions anyway. I never had very much interest in boys.

My father, when I told him, simply said, “Okay,” and we went on playing frisbee golf as if nothing had happened. I had been very nervous about telling him.

I know not everyone is as fortunate as I am to have such a loving and accepting family. For many, making the decision to be open about their sexuality puts them at risk. I think that says more about those people than it does about one’s personal pride in their identity.

Whether you are a member of the LGBTQ+ community, a straight ally, a neutral bystander or something else, I hope everyone has a wonderful Pride Month.

 

Kaylee Rush is a staff writer for The Snyder News. Coments on this article can be made at lifesyles@thesnydernews.com