i spent 22 years of my life closeted to everyone in my family other than my parents and my sister. my parents are unaccepting of my sexuality. this meant that i spent every holiday gathering watching my sister, cousins, and family members bringing their significant others who were welcomed with love and open arms. i spent years envying what they had. i felt like something was wrong with me for who i was, for who i loved. and i hated myself more and more every year for it.
i haven’t gone home at all for the holidays the last 3 years. this year i’m lucky to have come out to some of my extended family who has been loving and accepting. i made the decision last year that i would stop putting myself in an uncomfortable position, would stop hiding myself, would stop dulling who i am to make others comfortable.
so this holiday season remember that you’re not alone, whether you’re out and proud, or still in the closet, whether your family is loving and accepting, or not there at all, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞. i’m here if anyone needs someone to lean on. what gets me through the holiday season is remembering that it won’t always be like this. that one day i will live in a home, in a family, that is loving of all. ❤️🌈
