So yesterday was national coming out day. I found this out after I posted yesterday's blog. I was on twitter and someone I follow mentioned it. Plus it was a trending topic. Honestly I had mixed feelings about that. I understand what was meant by a National Coming Out Day. It was basically letting those out there know that it's ok and that many others are doing it with you. The thing about the gay community is that it is in fact a community. It is something that is very far reaching. It's not just a national thing, but an international thing. It reaches across all ages, races, religions, etc. So it is a good way to welcome new members. On the other hand. Just because it's a national day doesn't mean that everyone should rush out there and do it. Coming out is a very personal thing. No two families really handle it the same. It's not something that you can look at the calendar and say ok today is the day. I sadly know a coming out horror story. There was a student at my high school. I heard about it through a teacher because I had already graduated. Well he was basically an excellent student. Straight A's and very much involved in the school community. Well his parents find out he's gay, yank him out of the school mid-semester and throw him in one of those pray the gay away schools. They were going to react that way no matter what day the calendar shows. If he had been able to come out later in life it would have been a different story. I can only imagine the horrors he had to endure. I can't imagine he would ever truly forgive his parents for it. So it's a wash for me. In theory it's a great thing for everyone to get together and come out, but at the same time it is a very personal thing. It can't be forced on someone. When it does crap happens. When it can happen naturally the person coming out has a little bit more freedom and control of the situation. I'm not ready to come out to my parents yet because I'm still a bit dependent on them. I want to be completely self reliant when I do it. That way if they want to stay in contact they can, but they aren't forced too and I'm not in a situation where I'm wondering how am I going to handle this emergency.



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