Dear Gaysi readers,

I am out my stifling closet. Some of you read my other blog and so you probably know this already, but for those who don’t – I AM OUT! My father AND my mother now know about my Girl and me being in a relationship.

It was not easy, but it was far from the melodramatic scenarios I imagined. There is a lot of educating to be done. My parents have bought into a lot of the stereotypes that surrounds people of alternate sexualities and I am hoping that with time this too shall pass.

I have been secretive for so long about my relationship with The Girl that when my dad uses my laptop I think, “Oh, I hope he doesn’t find love letters from The Girl on it…”, and then realise that if he does, it would be awkward but that’s about it.

It’s taking a little getting used to, this being out thing. Like someone who’s been in the dark for a long time and then suddenly ventures out in the sunshine. I’m squinting my eyes and trying to adjust to this new way of being.

I know I have it a lot easier than a lot of other Gaysis. My worst case scenario was being disowned by my parents or them crying. For many others in the Gaysi family there is a lot more to fear – rape, beatings, forced marriages, murder. I am lucky to have the parents that I do. I am lucky to have the partner that I do. I am lucky to live in a country like Canada where I can take a lot for granted when it comes to equal rights. So, while it was not trivial for me to come out, it was not as big a deal as it might be for a lot of you. But I still hope that, if it’s safe, you will come out of your closets to as many people as you possibly can. Every time we tell someone that cares about us or that we care about that we are gay, we contribute towards making it a little easier for the next gaysi’s coming out.

There is still a long and arduous way forward. There are a lot of misconceptions out there, a lot of prejudice about who we are and why we are who we are.  But we’re on our way and we’ll get there eventually.

Out and Proud

“Broom”