I'm Coming Out

Michael Boynton, in his short story "Learning To Swim," from "The Gay Times Book of Short Stories: The Next Wave," makes the following observation about coming out of the closet: "Coming out is kind of like learning to swim. Sometimes you've just got to put the fear aside, close you eyes, and jump on in.  The trick to it is realizing you need to do it in the first place. I guess some people realize it gradually. Now, mine came to me like an epiphany a couple of months ago. You know, a sudden insight, when you finally get something and it makes sense? Something that changes you instantly?"

When I was younger, I naively thought you only had to come out once. Little did I know then, that coming out would be something I would have to do for the rest of my life! As a pastor, I come out to all visitors who show an interest in my church. I don't do this when they first walk in the door, but I do let them know who I am as soon as possible. My partner and I have made a pact to be honest with everyone who asks us a question about our relationship and so I find myself coming out to people in my community on a regular basis. Each time I share my story I feel stronger and more at peace with myself. It is a liberating experience.

The reason why we need to show the world who we are is because it's much harder to hate a person than it is to hate a thing. Therefore, each time we come out, we help to change people's minds about what LGBT people are like. Who do you feel led to come out to? Although it feels a bit like jumping into the deep end of a swimming pool for the first time, it is an important part of our spiritual and life journeys.