My Coming Out Story

My wife is a hub pages author, and as I read her article "My Lesbian Coming Out Story", it got me thinking about my own. So here it is, the way I remember it...

Before I get into the actual coming out story, here's some background on me as a kid:

I always knew I liked girls, and that I wasn't much of one. By this I mean that I always felt much more like one of the boys in the neighborhood. I recall myself as a child and young teen, dressing more like them than any of the girls I knew. I have always had a boyish walk and a boy's style overall, so dressing like the guys was normal for me; it just seemed right. I always hated when my mother wanted to put me in a dress, or girly clothes.

I had a few experiences with girl friends of mine when I was a teenager, usually under the guise of "truth or dare", but to me it was so real. Then most of these girl friends of mine became interested in dating boys - yuck! In order to fit in, I did the same thing. I saw them having fun with it and ranting about how good their new found relationships were, so I gave it a go, and another go, and yet another go.. you get the picture. I was trying to find the "right" guy for me. I figured I wasn't feeling the things that my friends were feeling because I hadn't found the right guy.

I had a few "boyfriends" that lasted longer than a few months. At the same time, I had gotten caught up in the partying scene. My life was going nowhere fast and I took advantage of the first opportunity that came along to get the hell outta dodge.

I didn't go far, about 45 minutes by car from my hometown, but it seemed like I was on the other side of the world. I had a job, made some friends and started attending church with one of them and her daughter. I decided to study the Bible and become a member of this church, and the church leaders advised that in order to stay holy and avoid temptation, it would be wise for me to move into a house and room with other sisters in the church.

Since I felt that the church leaders were the closest people on earth to God himself, I took their advice and moved into the house of sisters.

It was a 3 bedroom duplex that was connected to the land lady's house. It had a pond in the backyard, a fireplace, and was so incredible homey. I loved it. Since it was a 3 bedroom, this meant that I would have to share a bedroom with one of the girls. This was no problem for me, the room was huge and all of my stuff fit really nicely.

My roommate and I became very close friends overnight, I kid you not. we stayed up all hours telling each other our whole life's stories, and laughing with each other. It was a great bond that we formed. I knew that night that she'd be a really important figure in my life.

I couldn't have been more right on with that assumption. Over the next few weeks/months we got very close. Inseparable. One night while lying close to each other, we got so close that she kissed me. It was like my whole world began at that very moment. It was like I woke up from a life long sleep. I am so grateful for that moment. I really don't know which way my life would have gone, or how long it would have taken me to come out. I don't know when my next opportunity would have been.

Needless to say, the church wasn't fond of our relationship and we were no longer welcome there.

The first person I came out to was my cousin, Liz. Her reaction was so cute. She told me she'd always known I was gay since we were kids. She also told me that a few other people in my family had the same assumption. I ended up getting the same reaction from everyone I told from then on except for my mom. She still hopes that it's a phase that I will grow out of, but she's coming along.

It feels good to be out. I wouldn't trade this life for any other.