I'll be making my own overlay but I just wanted to say that I'm proud of those who have come out, and its okay to NOT come out as well.
My Story: I was 15 with my first serious girlfriend (Im AFAB) and I wanted to be with her openly to my family because she meant a lot to me. So for my 16th birthday we all went out to eat and I invited my best friend at the time and my girlfriend and decided I would tell them then with support. (And maybe a bit of hope a public space will prevent any loud bad reactions..)
So we're all done eating and just chatting, and I say I have something important to say. Well to my right was my best friend and then beside her my oldest brother. I'm gathering the courage and hear my brother whisper to best friend "She's coming out the closet"
In short, I was stunned! I asked how they knew as the others laughed (he whispers but it was still loud enough to be heard from the rest). They just told me they always knew. It had scared me to come out because my family I was adopted into, and they're older, old school. They make homophobic and racist remarks as "jokes" so I was scared for the worst. But they accepted it.
Over the years their "jokes" have not stopped. And it can hurt. I'm now found my true self as non-binary, using they/them pronouns and have changed my name and soon to change it legally. It hurts, it's frustrating for them to use she/her and my deadname. Saying I'll always be my deadname to them. But they still love me. I'm fortunate enough to had a good experience and a semi-support family. And I cherish that more with each sad and heartbreaking coming story gone wrong. But just remember that you do not have to come out. And of your blood do not expect you, then find people who do. I was taught that "blood isn't always family, and family isn't always blood." Others use the quote 'blood is thicker than water', as to say blood family trumps chosen family. But the full quote is "Blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb."
You can choose your own family if your's didn't choose you. And a great place to look starts here at ArtHaven. Where I've made many friends. @ Ephemera @ Kozmic and @ Fervent are just a few.
Be who you are, not what they expect you to be. Because someone out there will choose the real true you.💞🏳️🌈
Another note: