#DrewsViews: Coming Out
by Drew Adams
Today is October 11th! That means it’s national coming out day! Coming out is a meaningful experience that every LGBTQ navigates and chooses for themselves. Whether or not to come out to one’s parents, loved ones, friends, coworkers, or anyone else is a big decision. If you are considering coming out today, here’s some tips!
- Do not come out unless you are in a safe situation to do so
- Be honest and genuine to your own experience
- Don’t let anyone force you to come out if you aren’t ready
- Be prepared for every outcome and have a plan if the conversation goes wrong
- Remember that you are loved
If you have friends or loved ones who are coming out, or know anyone who isn’t out to everyone, here’s some tips to support them!
- Don’t pressure anyone to come out
- Don’t “out” anyone or tell anyone who they don’t want knowing
- Remind your friend or loved one that you love and support them
- Offer to be with them when they come out for moral support
- Offer to help your friend and ask what you can do to help, but don’t take it the wrong way if you can’t help or they don’t want you to help
Good luck to everyone who is coming out today! Happy coming out day!
About the Author:
Drew Adams is a transgender high school senior from Ponte Vedra, FL, who is committed to LGBTQ advocacy at the local and national levels. He serves as his high school GSA’s president and raises money for Northeast Florida’s LGBTQ youth outreach, JASMYN, to which he also donates food, toiletries and school supplies. Nationally, Drew serves as a youth ambassador and advocacy volunteer for The Trevor Project, a youth social media ambassador for the Matthew Shepard Foundation, and a Volunteer and Intern Coordinator for Point of Pride. On the legislative side, Drew lobbies for the Equality Act by visiting with his Congressional representatives and their staff.
Additionally, Drew has spent years fighting to change his school district’s bathroom policy to be trans-inclusive, and the fight is still ongoing. Drew is an International Baccalaureate student and a volunteer at the Mayo Clinic, and he hopes to go to medical school and become an adolescent psychiatrist specializing in transgender health. For fun, he practices Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, creates sculpture art and plays the piano.
