Happy National Coming Out Day! I came out of the closet when I was 17. I remember how excited and scared I was to say the word, "gay," out loud. My mom was immediately supportive, and my dad opposed me. I was kicked out of the house, but my mom didn't let that happen. Because I had a reasonably easy coming out compared to many of my peers, I chose to live my life EXTRA GAY & EXTRA LOUD. I have tried to be as visible and vocal for me and my people as I can. Today, we celebrate coming out as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or queer. The foundational belief is that once people know that they have loved ones who are lesbian or gay, they are far less likely to maintain homophobic or oppressive views. I am so grateful for all of the love I have received and more grateful for the progress we have made as a community. To all of my rainbow brothers and sisters AND all of our allies, stand PROUD! Happy LGBTIA+ Visibility Day! 🌈✨