Do you have any tips for an lgbtq+ person in the closet?
This might seem weird but...
Try not to feel pressured to come out if you don't feel it's safe to do so!
Recently, we have made great strides in progress for gender equality, and lgbtqa rights, and in many aspects parallel of those. That's great!
As a result, for many people, the visibility of their identities have made it easier to come out, and many people are now encouraged to come out to normalize non-binary gender identity.
However, I get the feeling that many people for whom it is not feasible to come out, not safe to do so, or if they're simply not ready, there is an unfair pressure to perform this 'coming out' ritual to validate themselves. As if they're not 'REALLY' gay, or bi, or trans, or nonbinary until they announce it on all social media and call up their relatives to 'do the paperwork'.
And I think that's frankly bullshit.
Coming out is not a one-and-done deal. It's a tedious process that never ends. My closest friends know I'm nonbinary - but many of my coworkers don't. My family doesn't - and I don't feel it's necessary to tell them.
Your identity should be yours, and what you do with it should be up to you. Just like any other aspect of yourself, it doesn't need to be public any more than you personally feel is necessary, and you shouldn't have to expose parts of your life you would prefer to keep private.
When and if you're ready to tell the world, it should be a joyous and comfortable occasion, not something you're forced into through peer pressure.
