A month or so ago, I wrote here about the decision I made to go 100% public with my sexual orientation in church -twice. Now don't get me wrong, I've been pretty out for a long time. Before these instances, my coworkers knew, my close friends knew, my family knew, my church leaders knew, pretty much most people knew. There was something strangely empowering, though, about allowing the entire ward, and then the entire Seattle/Tacoma metro area in on my life.
A lot of people had opinions on what short and long term effects might occur. I had my own ideas of how things would change with some people. The funny thing is that since then, I haven't noticed a dramatic change in the way people around me are acting. In fact, I have received more positive reactions than not; but in all actuality, most of my relationships are the same. The one person that changed? ME!
I've been a pretty outgoing person for the better half of my life, and I like to think that I make friends easily. But I have noticed how much more confident I've become over the last month. I have expressed my opinions more unabashedly, had more fun when going out, danced more shamelessly, laughed louder and longer, said "no" more emphatically, and much more I'm sure. I think that the reason the Lord prompted me to be so forthcoming with my Sunday School class was for this purpose: to prove to me that a raging homo like myself belongs in the neighborhood, in the church, in the world!
It's been a great feeling! I've still had some depressing moments, but overall, I've been happier. My friends have wanted to be around me more often, my family has requested more of my quality time, I've been hit on more often when out in public! Haha I know, I sound like a little girl~
Really, I'm grateful for this experience, and I'm looking forward to many more great opportunities to grow!
P.S. And I'm NOT 30! Yes, I'm talking to you, Chase!
4 comments:
That's really awesome!
I'm so happy for you! You are an awesome example. I thought a lot about you when preparing to teach the high priests last Sunday on adversity. I wondered how much to share. I shared more than I thought I would, but didn't out myself. One step at a time for me.
Glad you are doing so well!
Satan has always wanted you to keep that in the dark. But you'll find that when you share these things with people, more likely than not, they will not judge you because EVERYONE has issues (and if they say they don't, they're liars). I'm glad you're happy. You deserve that ;)
SO good to hear!
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