Happy National Coming Out Day!

[netmouse]

October 11th is a day for celebrating diversity in sexuality and lifestyles. At Grinnell we used to write happy positive reinforcements all over the campus in brightly colored chalk and have events all day...

... I miss that. I came out as bisexual at Grinnell, and appreciated the support structures there such as the coming out discussion groups. If anyone ever wants to talk about the process of coming out, or about your own considerations and curiosities regarding your sexuality, I'm here to listen if you need an ear -drop me a note at netmouse (at) netmouse.com if you want to talk. It's not about figuring out what slot you belong in - sexuality runs along a whole bunch of different axes, whether they are het/gay/bi, fem/male, sub/dom, mono/poly, etc. and I believe that those ranges include infinite varieties of people within them. There's a lot to figure out and explore, and happily it's a lifelong process.

So here's my proverbial scratches on the wall...


Happy Coming Out Day!

It's not about labels, it's about being yourself!
Explore! Create! Communicate!

Freedom is something we have to defend on a daily basis. That takes bravery. Be bold. Be beautiful. Be you.


For more coming out day fun HRC has a video on YouTube. We are making progress, really. To keep going, we have to Keep Coming Out!

Comments

[supergee.livejournal.com]

I believe there's a similar custom at my alma mater, Swarthmore, or at least I think Timothy Burke talked about something like that.

[curvygoodness.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the wonderful memory flash-back. Chalk-covered sidewalks shouting OUT to the world...

[davehogg.livejournal.com]

I miss that. I came out as bisexual at Grinnell

I thought that said "I missed coming out as bisexual at Grinnell", and my first thought was "Didn't she tell herself?"

Our minister did a GLBT Acceptance sermon this spring, and spent most of it talking about male homosexuality. It says a lot about out little UU church that at least five women outed themselves as bisexual during the ensuing "discussion", and no one in the building blinked. There are a lot of problems with our church, but it is a great place to be "different".

[netmouse.livejournal.com]

Yes! Triangles! Pink triangles everywhere!

Good times.

[jennkitty.livejournal.com]

I haven't outed myself to mine or my husband's family (my brother and his sis-in-law know) not because of any shame, but because it's not important enough to make things awkward. If they ask me outright, I'll be honest, but it would cause more heartache than it's worth to me.

I don't feel guilty about not being outspoken about my sexuality, though. I am proud of who I am, a bi, poly, kinky, curvy woman. But I'm not one for forcing anything on others, be it PDA, religion, or sexuality. If it comes up, it comes up. *shrug*

Sorry to dump this mini-post in your comments! you can delete it if you like. I have no idea what the point of this is. I guess I'm just sharing my experience. I'm comfortable in my skin, now. It's taken a while to get here, but a day to celebrate it is just a great thing.

[brendand.livejournal.com]

We should talk. I think I might be gay.

[tlatoani.livejournal.com]

Dude, it's just a phase.

[brendand.livejournal.com]

Wanna test that theory? I bet you've never made a gay man str8 before... ;)

[shekkara.livejournal.com]

I did - well, just for an evening. (Okay, let me clarify, it was my dancing that provoke said gay guy to say, "I'm gay, and she's turning *me* on.")

[brendand.livejournal.com]

That's entirely different. :)

[jeffreyab.livejournal.com]

So thanks to National Coming Out Day I now realize that in this picture I am surrounded by hot bi babes:

http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sctm/v129/179/4/553752023/n553752023_362162_3363.jpg

[tlatoani.livejournal.com]

Guess it depends on how boring Conclave gets... ;-)

[tlatoani.livejournal.com]

I guess you were the last to get the memo...

[jeffreyab.livejournal.com]

Indeed, if not for lj I might never have.

[kyril.livejournal.com]

And the ribbons, don't forget the ribbons.

And a certain "Bi American" pin comes to mind. Slightly dented, as I recall... I probably still have it somewhere.

[netmouse.livejournal.com]

The pin I still have is "I'm bisexual and I'm not attracted to you."

I don't wear it much anymore. Takes a certain mood.

[netmouse.livejournal.com]

Make no apologies about sharing! Sharing is great! Thank you!

[kyril.livejournal.com]

Oops, just checked, it's my "Don't presume I'm straight" pin that's slightly dented.

(Also found "Get a taste of religion -- lick a witch!")