#getting outed

[redwinevinegar47]

Good Omens Fanfic Recs - Trope #2: Being in the closet

Here are recommendations for Good Omens fanfic about being closeted.

Incomparable angst. Amazing period pieces that transport you to a very specific time and place where you experience the stigma and the struggle. I'm looking for those "period-typical homophobia" and "internalized homophobia" tags because it's so real.

*New* Love in the Garden by TawnyOwl95 (@tawnyontumblr) (Rated Explicit, 44K, Finished)

AIDS Crisis human AU. It’s an 80's period piece, transporting us to the early days of HIV/AIDS when so much was uncertain about the virus, how it was transmitted, and its implications for queer life. Knowing what’s going to happen, as a reader in 2025, generates a lot of almost excruciating dramatic irony. I really appreciated all the research, book recs, and end notes that made this feel real. Most of the cast is joyfully out, but Aziraphale is partially in the closet. We see the tragedy of that as well as how beautifully liberating it is when he can emerge. You are reassured from the start that it’s got a happy ending but it’s a very sobering story that feels reverent to read. 

*New* Wrecked by @snae_b (Rated Explicit, 14K, Chapters 5/16 up with a regular posting schedule every Monday).

Redneck Crowley human AU. I got sucked into this WIP early because I love how real the setting feels: this IS the rural American South in the early 90’s. This generates a lot of angst for Crowley, who’s notoriously queer and weathering a lot of homophobia in rhis small town. It’s Aziraphale who’s “so deep in the closet he might as well be in Narnia” but can’t stay away from Crowley as they compete in the local demolition derby. This one makes me feel things. Aziraphale sees the social death Crowley experiences, and what a complicated, painful choice it is to be himself OR repress it so he can maintain his social standing in his conservative Christian community. Wreckage.

Sit Tight, Take Hold by @nieded (Rated Explicit, 150K, Finished).

This is a fast-paced, gripping story set in Formula 1 racing. It means that Aziraphale and Crowley are navigating homophobia & what it means to be out in their industry and present-day society as large. I started this story with no interest or knowledge in racing but the writing is excellent and makes me care. The intensity of racing drives the story hard. At one point it stressed me out so much I woke up at 4am unable to go back to sleep until I finished.

Put down the apple, Adam, and come away with me by @arokel (Rated Mature, 32K, Finished)

It's the 1950's, and Crowley is an FBI agent infiltrating the Daughters of Bilitis’ second biennial convention.

This story is tense, riffing on Patricia Highsmith. The history is heartbreaking and important; the author did a lot of legwork and the stories feel real because of it. The author tagged this "Just a boatload of historical research" "Please appreciate all the research I did". -- AND I DID. This warning was on-point: "Warning that there are a LOT of period-typical terms for queerness and period-typical thoughts about queerness." Watching their relationship develop while they both had two typical, albiet different, mid-century world views, was fascinating. You could feel how difficult and constraining this time period was.

Slow Show by mia_ugly (Rated Explicit, 95K, Finished)

Like Sit Tight, Take Hold, this story puts Aziraphale and Crowley in the public eye. This time as actors. Their relationship grows under the strain of having to manage their public images. Moving. Classic for a reason.

Punks without Pants by Mrs_Seamstress (Rated Explicit, 47K so far, active WIP)

This is an AU based in London around the end of 1978 to 1979 known as ‘the winter of discontent’. Strikes, protests and political upheaval were the norm.

Crowley's a punk, Aziraphale's Northern Soul. Like Put Down the Apple, this fic is meticulously researched and I felt transported. I felt how risky it was to come out generally and to come out to someone you wanted to be with. It's testament to the world-building that the stakes felt high.

In His Hand a Burning Coal by @klikandtuna (Rated E, 190K so far, active WIP regularly updated every Tuesday)

I love this story and I post about this story a lot. It's updated every Tuesday like clockwork and I get antsy for the next chapter. I I related to how Aziraphale was struggling with being in the closet in college... Except in this story he's in a highly competitive marching band (another topic I knew nothing about before the story). We see his cautiousness from Crowley's perspective, and I felt kinship anxieties about making public a very private part of himself, even in a seemingly open and accepting environment. The relationship with Crowley is tender and humane. It's very lovely.

Final thoughts on this trope...

In my reading life, I want it both ways. I want to relax into worlds where queerness is accepted, celebrated, and taken for granted, but I also get something out of stories where it's really hard to be queer for reasons specific to the politics and culture at the time. In these stories, the characters are in the closet because there are real threats, and as a reader, you get to see them have fear and bravery (at least if you take the "happy ending" tags, which seems to be pretty typical in this gentle fandom).

Also: I've learned anything about AUs, it's that it DOES NOT MATTER what the scenario is if the writing is good. With all of these stories, the world-building is tremendous.

RWV Good Omens Fanfic Recommendations By Theme

Social Media | Being in the closet | Priests | Dystopias | University | Punks | Long AUs | Everything Else

[remembertheplunge]

I told him point blank that I am not gay.

July 30, 1981

Placerville, California

Got into a long conversation with a neighbor He is a mortician. He works down the street from where  we lived (We lived in apartments in  the corner of a large cemetery!) We had a long talk about our two professions.

Then he asked me if I knew of any attorneys in town who would be interested in aiding gays. He said there were gays in the area. That is hard for me to believe.

I think he thought that I was gay. Or, he wanted to know if I was. Being 26 and not married in this town makes you suspicious, I guess. He asked if I had ever been married!!!

So, I told him point blank that I was not gay. I also told him that I would talk with gays re: the law if they were discrete in their approach. So, I’m not quite sure what all of this meant tonight, but, it was refreshingly liberal!

End of entry

Note:

Wow!  

I wrote this entry in 1981 and forgot about it. I wrote  the following  margin note to this entry on 10/11/1988  “Well,, here, the future again knocks.”". And then, I completely forgot that the conversation with my neighbor ever happened.

The entry is massively telling about how in the closet I was at age 26. I apparently was terrified about being outed, including being outed to myself. My neighbor could clearly tell that I was gay.

Reading this entry just now (9/9/2023) here at Poeisa’s just off the Castro in San Fransisco, has changed history. Great example of the power of the journal to bend time and meaning instantaneously.  

[thestinkyman]

Sorry for the less than usual post. Vent under the cut. Content warning cause I'm talking about getting outed and extremely bad mental health due to it.

So my fucking brother. Not long after I came out to my grandparents (I lived with them at this point) as pansexual (that label no longer fits) my brother outed me as identifying as nonbinary and wanting to go by Theo at the time as a "gotcha" moment during an unrelated argument.

Not only does he not fucking regret the moment in my life that sent me into a downward spiral. But he thinks he's fucking justified for it. He thinks its fine be ause they already partially knew about my queerness. He thinks it's fucking funny. He just showed me the screenshot he used and fucking laughed. Like this was just some funny fucking moment from years ago that had no negative affects.

He fucking thinks the guy that sent him the screenshot is justified because this piece of shit sent the screenshot to him because I said in the message I sent "now that [brother] is gone" (he had left the discord server I posted it in) and he thought despite that my brother should know about it.

I'm so grateful for my dad because when I was arguing with my brother about how outing someone is never justified, my dad took my side and shared a story of what happened to a friend of his when they got outed as gay in his high school.

[cispision]

Hey cis people, if a trans person tells you they are trans that does not mean you have permission to tell other people! You were entrusted with something very personal and you do not have the right to out them. It's dangerous and just entitled. Someone else's transness is not your fun secret, you don't get to tell other people even if you trust the person you are telling, even if you think you know the person well or that they are cool with trans people. It's not your information to share. It is dangerous, it is rude, it is entitled, it is disrespectful. Stop.

[stranger-hsmtmts]

I’m very open about my sexuality on my fan pages, but not so much in real life. I’ve come out to a few close friends but I’m terrified to tell family members and the rest of the world. I attend a Lutheran school and I don’t want to have to face the consequences for coming out while I’m stil going there.

I’m bringing this up because last night I found out someone started a rumor that I was an dating a close girl friend of mine and that I’m a lesbian. Both of these things are untrue, but I was hurt none the less. I keep telling everyone I’m so straight to try and get this shut down, but it hurts more and more each time.

I’m not sure how any of this came to be, but I have a feeling the person who started it found out about me. Everyday feels like I’m lying to the whole world and I don’t know how to deal with this.Bisexuality shouldn’t be something crazy or something that makes me so different from everyone in my life but it is.

I wanted to come on here and say thanks to the people who like my bi content and the content I repost. That really appreciate how I get to be myself on here and it just goes no questions asks. That’s how the world should work right? Yeah it is.

I’m really struggling to get a grasp on life right now and I’m absolutely terrified to go back to school with this rumor. I’ve been told everyone knows it’s a joke but that doesn’t give me the right not to be angry!

Thank you Tumblr. I might be a small account but I’m thankful for all my followers and everyone who sees my account.

I love you and I hope you have a great day. Just know you’re never alone 💗

[today-only-happens-once]

Crossroad

Title: Crossroad

Word count: 1983

Summary: The policy in unjust, and Logan has a decision to make. Teacher!Logan. Logicality, familial LAMP/CALM.

Warnings: transphobia, discussion of outing/getting outed, dysphoria mention, cursing, arguing.

A/N: I am angry. This is a vent fic, really. I’m just… sorry, I guess. Not really edited. Probably not very good? But hey, here this is anyway. Again, I’m sorry.

..

“Are there any questions?”

The question at the staff meeting sends Logan’s hand straight up in the air. Because he is certain he must have heard them wrong. There’s no way in hell—

“Yes, Logan?”

Logan keeps his expression neutral as he adjusts the frame of his glasses. “You mean to tell us that we are now contractually required to report suspicions of gender deviance to our students’ parents? Regardless of potential risks that may induce?” His tone is ice. Beneath it burns a fury so hot Logan can feel it simmering in his stomach.

The principal gives him a dry look. “Yes. We are calling it our “Rights of the Parent” initiative.”

Bullshit, Logan thinks. “What rights are those, exactly?” Logan can feel the eyes of his fellow teachers and administrators flickering nervously between him and the principal. Logan does not care.

“We are upholding the rights of the parents to all the information regarding their child so as to help keep families together,” comes the clipped reply.

“What about the rights of our students?” Logan demands coldly.

“The administration stands behind this initiative. You all are contractually required to report any questions or signs regarding a changing gender identity or seeking help for gender dysphoria.”

Logan doesn’t respond. He doesn’t know how. He sits rigid and silent and fuming until the meeting is officially ended. He sees the principal casting him furtive glances but Logan simply stands up and walks out of the room.

…

“Rough day, Lo?” Patton asks him after dinner.

“Hm?”

Patton gives him a small, concerned smile as he starts cleaning off the table. “You’ve been really quiet tonight and barely touched your dinner.”

Logan groans and rubs a hand over his eyes under his glasses. “I’m sorry, Patton. It was not intended to be a slight on you. Your cooking is always appreciated.”

“What’s on your mind?” Patton asks softly. Logan feels him place his hands on Logan’s shoulders.

“Patton,” Logan says haltingly. “I… seem to have come to a kind of moral crossroads. And I am not sure what the best course of action is.” Logan looks up at his husband. His patient, soft face felt like a steady rock in the sudden sea of uncertainty and doubt Logan had found himself thrust into the past few hours. “Your input would be… greatly valued.”

Patton frowns and pulls out the chair at the corner of the table beside Logan. “Talk to me.”

Logan rests his head in his hands. “My boss has essentially instituted a new clause that I am contractually obligated to follow or risk losing my job. The ramifications of being caught in not following this addition to our contract could also potentially damage future opportunities to pursue this field. And to risk this job, without consulting you, seems… irresponsible, at best. I do not wish to place the financial burden of this family solely on your shoulders. Especially with Virgil going to college in two years.”

The kitchen is quiet for a moment. The only sound to be heard is a song floating through the closed door and down the stairs from Virgil’s room—something with a fast beat and heavy bass that Logan can’t identify—and the whir of the refrigerator. Logan lifts his head out of his hands and locks gazes with his husband.

Patton sighs and covers Logan’s hand with one of his own. “Why don’t you want to follow it?”

“They are requiring that we out transgender students to their parents,” Logan says, no longer able to keep the bitterness out of his voice. “And I… I don’t know that I can, in good conscience, follow that.” He flips the hand Patton is covering up so that his palm is touching his husband’s before entwining their fingers together. When he looks back up at Patton, he sees that a brightness and pained empathy shining in them.

“Logan,” Patton says softly. “I have your back. Always have, always will. You have to do the right thing here.”

Logan takes in a deep breath and releases it in a huff. “I just wish I knew what that was, Patton. I can’t carry it out. That much is certain. But… does this mean I leave the school? That feels…” Logan isn’t sure how to explain the slightly sour taste the thought leaves on his tongue, or the twist it pulls in his stomach. “Cowardly. It feels cowardly, to leave those kids to fend for themselves in an institution that is willing to so greatly dismiss their well-being and best interest.”

Logan feels Patton squeeze his hand. He is grateful for the small reminder and reassurance the action gives him. Logan holds onto his hand like it’s a lifeline.

“But does staying mean I’m condoning it? Does it make me complicit in the injustice?” Logan can tell the frustration is starting to boil over in the biting way the words push past his lips. “Would leaving be a sign that I don’t stand for it and neither should the students? Or is it just running away when they need an advocate from inside?”

Logan’s hand curls into fist. Patton reaches across the table and covers that hand too until Logan relaxes his grip.

“Logan.”

“What?”

“Look at me.”

The high school science teacher looks up at his partner and is surprised when he feels soft lips meeting his own, Patton’s hand cupping his jaw. Logan’s eyes close and he leans into the kiss, releasing a faint breath when Patton pulls away. He brushes his thumb back and forth across Logan’s cheek.

“You are going to figure out what the best course of action is,” Patton assures him. “But this decision has to be yours. I can’t tell you what to do here. I’ll support you no matter what.”

Logan swallows and nods.

…

Logan sits at his desk the following morning as students start making their way into his room. Some of them have earbuds in, nodding along to whatever beat is helping them prepare for the day ahead. Others come in with friends, laughing and elbowing one another and saying things that Logan is almost certain is either a reference to something he’s never seen or an inside joke.

Two boys talk about the basketball game they won last night. A small group of them come in talking excitedly about how casting calls would be posted at the end of the day for the school’s production of The Crucible. One of them is Virgil’s best friend, Roman. The rising theatre star flashes a bright smile to the science teacher. Logan gives him a polite, acknowledging nod in return. Roman’s smile dims.

The bell rings a few minutes later. The class takes their seats. It’s all very ‘business as usual’, except that Logan can’t help but feel like something has fundamentally changed. Something he can’t quite pin-point.

He looks at the podium at the front of the room, off-center so as to not block the screen behind it. The class looks at him—half of them expectant, half of them already bored—as the PowerPoint slide with the title of the unit in big, bold letters glares from the screen behind him. Logan looks back at them.

He switches off the projector and takes a seat on the stool in the front of the room. The class straightens up almost as a cohesive unit. Logan looks at them all again and sighs.

“We’re going to postpone Chapter 9 until next week,” Logan tells them. “There’s something I want to talk to you all about today.”

A student in the back raises her hand. Logan nods to her. “What are we gonna talk about instead, Mr. Sanders?”

“I want to talk to you all about identity.” Logan gives the class a steady, quiet look. “And I have the feeling this may be the most important thing I teach you all in our entire year together. So if you don’t take anything away from today except one thing, know this: you are the expert on yourself. Nobody has the right to your identity but you.”

…

“You quit? What do you mean ‘you quit’?”

Logan stares at the principal unflinchingly. “I mean I am tendering my resignation from this school. I am willing to fulfill my two weeks obligation should it be necessary, but I do not feel that this establishment is reflective of my ideals as an educator.”

“Sanders, you’ve worked at this school for the past—“

“Eight years,” Logan replies coldly. “Yes, I am quite aware.”

“What changed?”

Logan’s jaw jumps. “As an educator, the safety of my students and their freedom of expression is my absolute top priority. You have thrown both to the wind with this ridiculous ‘Rights of Parents’ initiative. Frankly, these students deserve better from you, sir.”

The principal’s face flushes red, his nostrils flaring. “That is not your call to make.”

“You’re right,” Logan admits. “It’s not. But I cannot work at an institution that knowingly puts my students at risk.”

“You have no evidence that this intitative is putting anyone at risk—“

Logan feels his frustration flaring. “Suicide rates for LGBTQ+ teens has risen in the last twenty years. Forcing teens in vulnerable positions to be outed to someone who is responsible for them financially and is expected to care for their well-being not only may put them at risk if those caretakers are not supportive—“

“Now wait a minute—“

“—but is also a complete violation of their own autonomy as human beings,” Logan continues, his voice rising slightly to speak over the interruption. “Nobody has a right their identity but them. Who that gets shared with should be up to them. Not you, not me, but them.”

“I will not have you questioning—“

Logan shakes his head. “I resign, sir,” he says bitingly. “Effective immediately or in two weeks is up to you.” He pushes himself up from the desk and grabs his jacket that he had slung over the back of the chair, walking out of the office.

“Immediately,” he says sharply. “You’re lucky I don’t fire you instead, Sanders.”

Logan lets the door slam closed behind him.

…

“Uh, dad?”

It’s two days later, and Logan looks up from the laptop in his lap as he sits on the couch. Virgil stands in the front door, his backpack slung over one shoulder. He has a handful of envelopes in his hands. Logan arches an eyebrow at his son.

“Yes?”

“Here.” He holds out the envelopes to Logan. “These are for you.”

Confused, Logan takes them from Virgil. He sees “Mr. Sanders” written on the front of most of them. There’s seven of them. Logan looks up at Virgil who is has this odd look in his eyes that Logan can’t quite place.

“What are they?” he asks.

“Letters,” Virgil explains simply. “Word about why you left has started getting around the school, and… well, a lot of people actually think it was pretty cool of you. People started handing me letters they wanted to give to you.”

“Oh,” Logan says, surprised. “Um, thank you, Virgil.”

“Dad?”

“Hm?”

Logan coughs in surprise when Virgil suddenly gives him a fierce hug. “What you did? That was… pretty cool. It… mattered. To more than just a few people. So… thanks for sticking up for them.”

Logan manages a small smile as Virgil pulls away. “Always, Virgil.”

[imtryinggokay]

Okay so I need you guys’ opinion on something:

Okay so like a year ago I came out to my friend as bi (and like she was chill about it, since you know she was alo bi) and  it was cool and everything. Then fast forward a few months and I find out that she FUCKING OUTED ME TO SEVERAL PEOPLE!  And like I was so hurt because she was the only one who knew at the time of her outing me and it was a really big deal to me. Since, I was super hurt I vented to a few friends and whatever and everything was fine. So I was really fucking pissed about it and she claimed that ‘she doesn’t out people’ when I confonted her about it, so I just gave up and started avoiding her the best I could since I didn’t want to be friends with someone who would do that. But like a week ago she hit me up and asked me ‘why I was mad at her’ (because I guess the friends I vented to told her) and I told her, you know, ‘cause maybe she wanted to say sorry or something. But nope. She instead WENT OFF on me, saying stuff like how I was fake and ‘used her to go to a concert and to the mall’ (which makes no sense, since 1. we went to the mall with a group of friends and she was just there, I did not ask anything of her and 2. we got tickets to go to the concert that she’s talking about way before I even was mad at her, and again, I asked nothing of her). Anyways, she’s just a really shitty person. Not only did she out me but she also cheated on her ex with a friend of mine (romantically and a bit phsically) and blamed it all on him (not saying he was innocent, it’s just she’s not either). But, that all being said, I feel like hloding a grudge would just be pointless. I mean we have basically the same friend grup and she’s got them all wrapped around her finger. Also, she still has not said sorry for anything she has done though, so I’m not sure what to do. 

Help??