Reply #15: I'm 38; came out at 15 [View All]

[TechBear_Seattle]

I admitted to myself that I was gay on March 26, 1983 at 3:56 p.m. (I was a neurotic journalkeeper in my teens.) I was so surprised that I was still alive when March 26, 1984 came around that I treated my self out to lunch, and have kept March 26 ever since as a day of celebration.

I came out to my mom and step-dad on May 19, 1983, at 8:24 p.m. About 10 minutes latter, I realized that I would keep May 19 as a day of fasting and repentance for the rest of my life.

My mom couldn't decide if I was claiming to be gay because I had been molested, or if I was claiming to be gay as some sort of cruel joke to get attention. At a loss over whether I needed to be protected or punished, she hit on the perfect compromise....

I was grounded.

I had to take the bus to and from school (I preferred to walk), could not stay after school (I was in the chess club), could not receive or make phone calls, could not have friends over, could not leave our property without having at least one other family member with me at all times. That lasted almost three weeks before I was freed on probation. That lasted until late September, when my nosy mom found some books I had checked out of the library on the history of the gay pride movement.

Did I mention that I was so surprised to still be alive a year after coming out that I kept the date as a day of celebration?