National Coming Out Day

Today is National Coming Out Day.

I came out to myself almost two years ago, though it was something I struggled fiercely with for long before that. Now, looking back, I can see now that I have always been gay, but it just never occurred to me that I was.

Since I've accepted that this is who I am, I am more at peace with myself than I have ever been. I know who I am now. I like who I am now. And I am absolutely not ashamed of who I am.

I've seen lots of articles and blog posts and random stuff online that reminds us that coming out still matters. In fact, that's the theme of the HRC's celebration today: COMING OUT STILL MATTERS.

Of course, as a lesbian, I wish very, very much that I lived in a world where coming out didn't matter. After all, straight people don't have to come out as straight, so why do others have to come out as gay or bisexual or trans or anything else?

Still, it is important because, right now, it's part of living authentically, which I think is very important.

Living authentically means you aren't ashamed of who you are and make no compromises for it. That's what coming out was about for me. I finally knew who I was. I finally had words for my feelings and an explanation for a lot of the struggles I have gone through. Coming out meant living authentically the best way I know how, so I did.

It's important for me to live authentically not only for myself, but to teach my children to live authentically, as well. I never want my children to be ashamed of who they are. I want them to be true to themselves out loud. And I can't expect that of them if I don't do it myself.

I am a lesbian. I am out of the closet, and I am living authentically as a lesbian.

Happy National Coming Out Day.