26 years ago I came out for the first time. I was 16, standing in my childhood bedroom, alone, and looking in a full-length mirror. I said out loud to myself what I had been thinking for a while... I'm gay.
I've probably come out every day since then in some way shape or form. Each time I come out it's different. Sometimes it seems like a momentous occasion, like when I came out to my parents, and other times it seems like an afterthought, like when a coworker asks who I brought to the wedding I attended over the weekend. No matter how many times I come out, every time I do, it comes with some risk.
Living authentically is not for the faint of heart. It requires doing the work to discover who we truly are and then having the courage to unapologetically present that to the world.
When I came out to my parents, one of them shared their fear that my life would be more difficult and yes, my life has been more difficult. Along the way, I have encountered my fair share of people who have teased, bullied, threatened, harassed, became violent, or simply looked down their noses at me. Despite all of that, living authentically has ultimately been my key to unlocking a life that is so much better than I ever could have imagined as a scared 16-year-old.
By being unapologetically true to myself, I've been able to find allyship, sponsorship, and I have been able to give back to others.