I look forward to a day that "coming out" doesn't mean anything, because no one will feel a need to do it. I certainly didn't feel a need to tell everyone I'm straight!
There are actually a large number of gay and lesbian people (especially young ones) who won't use the word or self-description at all. They're not trying to hide or "pass", but they think labels are limiting. That's a huge topic, and one I'll probably take on eventually, but the thing is that at the core of this mindset is the simple assumption that of course GLBT people should be treated the same as all other citizens. We see eye-to-eye on that much, at least, and we share a lack of patience with those who stand in the way of equality. That impatience is something that others who embrace the labels—often older gay people—are sometimes too reluctant to act on, in my opinion.
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I look forward to a day that "coming out" doesn't mean anything, because no one will feel a need to do it. I certainly didn't feel a need to tell everyone I'm straight!
There are actually a large number of gay and lesbian people (especially young ones) who won't use the word or self-description at all. They're not trying to hide or "pass", but they think labels are limiting. That's a huge topic, and one I'll probably take on eventually, but the thing is that at the core of this mindset is the simple assumption that of course GLBT people should be treated the same as all other citizens. We see eye-to-eye on that much, at least, and we share a lack of patience with those who stand in the way of equality. That impatience is something that others who embrace the labels—often older gay people—are sometimes too reluctant to act on, in my opinion.
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