Yep, I'm Gay

So how do you celebrate National Coming Out Day when you're already (fairly loudly) out?

Correct Heterosexist Strangers.

A heterosexist stranger is a person you don't know, and have absolutely no connection to, who makes a comment in regards to your presumed hetero significant other, or your presumed heterosexuality in general.

I know, it's so easy to shrug off these people. What does it matter if this total stranger knows whether I'm queer or not? In fact, just this last week I let a cab driver think Jill and I were roommates (the really annoying thing is, he's the same cab driver we had a few months ago, and I had already come out to him during that ride when he made the same roommate assumption. How many times, guy?!?!?!??!).

The thing is, it might not make a difference for you, but it will for queer folks in that stranger's life. Just a simple statement of, actually, I'm gay or actually, my girlfriend picked this engagement ring out for me, not my boyfriend, and they might get flustered. Or embarrassed. Let them. Allow them to get as uncomfortable as they need. The more awkward the situation is, the less likely they are to assume these things in the future. And the more likely they are to not be as caught off guard when their son or niece or friend comes out to them.

Because really that's what coming out is all about. Visibility, not necessarily for ourselves, but for other people. We can help this situation we have in this world where queer kids are killing themselves due to abuse or being outed. Every single mind changed or even tilted a lil' counts. Out yourself to a stranger today.

And my straighties-stop assuming everybody is straight!

<3