A Path That’s Just Beginning } Coming Out
Ashley Lemire/The Quad News
Editor's Note: In honor of National Coming Out Day, Oct. 11, members of GLASS (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Supporters) have offered their tales of struggle and courage to The Quad News as inspiration for others. We hope that you will respect these individuals and their stories.
I've known I was gay for my entire life. It is something that is just a part of you, like your hair or eye color. However, it is not something that many people accept or are comfortable with.
I hid who I was all the way up until my junior year of college. It ate at me and chewed me up inside, I even contemplated suicide. It came to a point where I just needed to share who I was with my friends and family.
The first person I told was also a gay male and with no surprise he was fine with who I was, but it was not him who I was worried about; it was the straight people that I was afraid of. I then told a few other people, including my mother, who didn't take it well. She didn't disown me or throw me out of the house, but you could tell it put awkwardness into our relationship. It was then that I needed the most support, and for this support I turned to the men in my fraternity.
I had practiced what I would say in front of the mirror for nearly a week. I walked into our weekly chapter meeting, and my stomach was in my chest. I was shaking, for what seemed like hours, trying to build up the courage to say what was on my mind. I just wanted to run away.
Towards the end of our meeting I stood up and told the near 90 men in the fraternity that I had something to say. My voice trembled as I expressed to them that I was gay.
I tried to explain that I am still the same person and I didn't want anything to change in our relationships. My biggest fear was that people would treat me differently. After I finished explaining myself and finally settled down, every single man in that room gave me a standing ovation. I was in utter shock and awe that all these men, who I will forever call my brothers, could accept me for being a gay male.
And to top it off, when everyone had calmed down two more of my brothers had come out. This was only the beginning of my coming out and I am still working on telling the rest of my family, but I can honestly say that it has been a great experience thus far.
When most people describe their coming out stories it is terrifying and usually ends in heartbreak. However, it is not always like that. At least for me, it may have been one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Yes, there were a few bumps and bruises along the way, but those are the things that make you that much stronger for being who you are.
For all the people that are currently struggling or are afraid of what people may think of you, I'll leave you with this: "Be who you are, and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind," said Dr. Seuss.
Everything will get better and life can be brilliant, you just need to keep your head up and keep looking towards that light at the end of the tunnel.
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