That’s not entirely true. I’ve been “out” since my late teens. As I said,
everyone around me knows and I don’t hide it. The problem arises
when someone new enters my circle. It may not be immediately
obvious that I’m queer. Although I don’t hide it, I don’t talk about it
every minute of every day either. So for me “coming out” has been an
on going process for decades.
Other than wearing a rainbow flag on my forehead, I’m not sure what
more I’m supposed to do other than to just be frank and honest whenever
the topic arises.
A funny story.....at the office a few weeks ago they were handing out
rainbow flag pins on National Coming Out day. A well intentioned young
straight employee timidly approached me to ask if I’d wear one to identify
myself as “you know....”just a supporter”....of the LGBTQ community”.
I said, “baby, I’ve marched in protest around the White House, sewn quilts till
my fingers bleed, paraded down 5th Ave in the blazing sun for decades, repaired
bicycles in a tent in the middle of a nor’easter, taught terrified college students how to
put on condoms in the middle of a raging epidemic, held the hands of dying strangers,
offered HIV testing in a bathhouse at 2 o’clock in the morning, and fucked hundreds
of men up the ass....I’m a little bit more than “just a supporter”.
His jaw dropped and I took my pin....so yes....it’s an on going process.