Coming Out
Lou Ann and I went to see the wonderful movie “The Post” tonight. The audience applauded three times during the movie. There were previews of upcoming movies which included a movie about a gay boy coming out. That term has always bothered me. Yes, I realize that it means coming out of the closet. And why were people in the closet in the first place? I grew up in Hollywood and encountered so many folks who were making alternate life choices. Even the word alternate feels loaded to me. Alternate to what? The majority? Then me and many of my closest friends would be judged for being different.
When did we decide that some of us “came out”? If I have a life choice that doesn’t match others, I am not in a closet, I am just choosing. I realize that living in Southern California for some twenty plus years allowed me to meet people from all walks of life. There were so many choices regarding religious beliefs that were readily accepted. It felt wonderful to me, that so many of my friends accepted others for who they were.
So somewhere, sometime, some folks decided that people who looked at, cared for, made love with the same sex were not okay. I suppose it came from some Biblical text written by a judgmental older white male. I am not sure. Since the 1970’s there has been a much greater acceptance of homosexual lifestyle choices. Thank goodness. People still think that homosexuality is a choice. Even if it is a choice, it is not ‘less than’ if it were biological. To love another, regardless of their sexuality is the essence of a joyful life. I know I am ranting tonight and I feel good about it. I want no one to feel ‘less than’ for how they look, who they love or what they feel.
No one should ever have to “come out”! There was never any closet to be in as far as I am concerned. Let us unconditionally love and support each other, just the way we are, in all our magnificence! From my open heart to yours, Thomas