Choosing the first few people to come out to can be frightening. Usually it's either a loved one or a close friend, hoping for a positive response. There is also usually a group of people we save for last, either because it's a large group or because we are afraid of their response. Who did you save for last?
The very last group of people I came out to were those we rarely see, people we send Christmas cards to. I didn't want to get a Christmas card with my dead name on it, so a few months before Christmas I sent a letter to everyone on our list. I don't think we received any responses, but none of the Christmas cards we received had my dead name.
The last people I came out to in person were my parents. I had convinced myself that my dad would never want to see me again, so I wanted to leave the worst for last. Luckily, I was wrong. Although it took a few years for my parents to get my name and pronouns right, they never seemed disappointed in me. My mom passed away four years ago, but my dad and I still see each other every month or so.
Love always -- Jessica Rose
