Today is National Coming Out Day! It’s been 14 years since I first came out to myself, and then my high school health class in my senior year. If I hadn’t come out then, I would never have met so many amazing friends and mentors through places like @pprainbowroom and @wcusaga. Without my coming out experience and the support I got from my health teacher, Steve Harnish, and the Rainbow Room staff, I have no idea what type of person I’d be today. It helped me become a fuller version of myself, and guided me into the professional and academic worlds I am a part of today. I have met and come out to so many new people as I’ve moved through my life. I hope through experiences like doing SpeakOUTs at West Chester, being an out member of the Fraternity and Sorority Community, and playing on a gay rugby team, I helped dispel myths and misunderstandings about LGBTQIA people. I still firmly believe, as Harvey Milk did, that visibility through coming out is one of the most important things for the LGBTQIA community in our continued fight for equality and the right to live authentically. To those who have come out, thank you for taking the jump and making yourself visible. To those who will come out, we’re here to catch you when you make the jump. To those who feel like they can’t come out, we still love you and support you. And we’ll be waiting for you when you’re ready. #nationalcomingoutday🌈 #gay #gayuncle #visibilitymatters #keithharing #plannedparenthood #comprehensivesexualityeducation