Community Conversation => Transitioning => Coming out of the closet => Topic started by: icontact on December 05, 2008, 11:36:57 PM Return to Full Version

Title: So, I just came out.
Post by: icontact on December 05, 2008, 11:36:57 PM
Came out to my GSA today at our meeting, everyone was totally supportive. Went home, realized that I didn't have any real reasons to stay in the closet, and I was never one to stay in there anyways, it always annoys me way too much to stay for longer than a few weeks after I'm sure.

So I made a note a few hours ago[yay facebook for coming out! ;D] and tagged all my friends. I've gotten a couple supportive replies so far, which is comforting. I guess the real test will be when I go to school Monday and see if people actually use male pronouns.

Also planning to email all my teachers about it tomorrow, am a little nervous about my Spanish teacher, because treating me like a guy in Spanish will require total acceptance, or at least tolerance I guess, since Spanish is such a gendered language. It's near impossible to avoid noting what gender someone is.

Anyways.
Wish me luck?
-scribbles Christmaramahanuotherkwanzaa cards anxiously-
Title: Re: So, I just came out.
Post by: Ellieka on December 06, 2008, 12:23:39 AM
Way cool! congratulations!

You'll do fine 'cause u da man!

Chin up :)
Title: Re: So, I just came out.
Post by: iFindMeHere on December 06, 2008, 12:30:12 PM
Quote from: freespeechz on December 05, 2008, 11:36:57 PM
Came out to my GSA today at our meeting, everyone was totally supportive. Went home, realized that I didn't have any real reasons to stay in the closet, and I was never one to stay in there anyways, it always annoys me way too much to stay for longer than a few weeks after I'm sure.

So I made a note a few hours ago[yay facebook for coming out! ;D] and tagged all my friends. I've gotten a couple supportive replies so far, which is comforting. I guess the real test will be when I go to school Monday and see if people actually use male pronouns.

Also planning to email all my teachers about it tomorrow, am a little nervous about my Spanish teacher, because treating me like a guy in Spanish will require total acceptance, or at least tolerance I guess, since Spanish is such a gendered language. It's near impossible to avoid noting what gender someone is.

Anyways.
Wish me luck?
-scribbles Christmas cards anxiously-
Blessings of Grace and Love. Mazel Tov! ;)
Title: Re: So, I just came out.
Post by: icontact on December 06, 2008, 02:21:49 PM
Wow, gotten lotssss of replies since yesterday, and all supportive! I know there's some people who have read it and are not responding but hey, now I know I have a lot of people who will back me up if it comes down to it.

Lane: LIESSSS YOU EDIT MY POSTS ;D
Title: Re: So, I just came out.
Post by: iFindMeHere on December 06, 2008, 02:23:17 PM
Quote from: freespeechz on December 06, 2008, 02:21:49 PM
Wow, gotten lotssss of replies since yesterday, and all supportive! I know there's some people who have read it and are not responding but hey, now I know I have a lot of people who will back me up if it comes down to it.

Lane: LIESSSS YOU EDIT MY POSTS ;D

WHAT. lol
Title: Re: So, I just came out.
Post by: icontact on December 06, 2008, 02:34:40 PM
Heheh. Iamninja. :angel:

Now I have to formulate teacher emails. Uphhhh. I really don't like this part. :-\
Title: Re: So, I just came out.
Post by: Jeatyn on December 06, 2008, 02:48:12 PM
heh I used facebook to make sure all the extended family and everyone knew  ;D so much easier than telling everyone individuallly
Title: Re: So, I just came out.
Post by: Alyx. on December 06, 2008, 02:50:10 PM
You are coming out to everyone that fast? Wow, that's awful brave of you...

YOU DA MAN! :D
Title: Re: So, I just came out.
Post by: icontact on December 06, 2008, 05:35:10 PM
Whewf, just sent out teacher emails. Now the hard part is waiting. Replies keep coming in from my friends, a few have surprised me in being okay with it [partially I think because an overwhelming amount of people have been wayy supportive, and they don't want to feel left out] but yeah. It's just reallyreally nice to see that in spite of everything, I am still accepted.

Heartwood: Hmm, I don't really see it as fast, since I've been dressing androgynous since I was a littleun, as a guy since I finished elementary, and have been out as a lesbian since the end of middle school. And I'm in Californaiay too, so people are generally accepting of quirks here. :)
Title: Re: So, I just came out.
Post by: Mr. Fox on December 06, 2008, 08:24:23 PM
I plan to go with a similar plan as you.  My best friend keeps bugging me to make a myspace anyway, so I figure that will be a handy way to come out.  However, I first have to come out to close friends, or else they will be pissed that I didn't tell them.
Adrian
Title: Re: So, I just came out.
Post by: PolarBear on December 07, 2008, 01:06:34 PM
Hey, I wanted to wish you good luck tomorrow with your teachers and your classmates.
I hope everything works out fine quickly, you're a brave guy!

Vincent, not so brave guy
Title: Re: So, I just came out.
Post by: icontact on December 07, 2008, 11:55:20 PM
 :-\ So it's nearly 10pm and only one of my teachers has replied, the GLBT ally teacher. Am really hoping that the others just haven't checked their email, and aren't just avoiding the subject. Kindof nervous for tomorrow. At least it's cold enough that I can wear a beanie everyday, and thus pass 100%, and "prove" my guyness I guess. Kinda sad that we have to prove it. Thankyou for the luck Vincent. :)
Title: Re: So, I just came out.
Post by: iFindMeHere on December 08, 2008, 12:23:28 AM
Sometimes teachers like weekends.  :o

So I wanted to suggest if the one is purposely a GLBT ally maybe they could work with any resistant colleagues on this. Also, don't be afraid to work with Student Senate, a GSA or similar group and the administrators to put on an awareness roundtable for the teachers and students. Many times working through Student Senate and applicable clubs can gain funds to pay for speakers, food and publicity. I know when I was a senator at my school (oh I miss that) we did quite a few such events... but it would not have happened without someone speaking up and saying, "I want to make an event where a, b and c happen...."
Title: Re: So, I just came out.
Post by: Cindy on December 08, 2008, 02:43:17 AM
Fantastic
Well done
You are the guy, you have the balls in the brain ;) and you can have mine ANYTIME you want them ;D.

Luv Cindy James
Title: Re: So, I just came out.
Post by: Jay on December 08, 2008, 02:55:55 AM
Well done freespeechz that takes hell of cuts! If you dont mind me asking what did you email
say?

You are very brave I have yet to do that.

I couldn't imagine coming out at school its all so complicated.


Thumbs up to you though young dude! ;D

Let us know if any of your teachers reply!
Title: Re: So, I just came out.
Post by: Ellieka on December 08, 2008, 06:21:25 AM
Hiya Freespeechz.

Hope everything goes OK for you today. Don't let anyone try to get you down. You got ballz of steel so don't be afraid to show it. Go get um Bro!
Title: Re: So, I just came out.
Post by: icontact on December 08, 2008, 06:01:00 PM
Soooo Monday is over. At least school is. The results:

One more teacher replied, she's basically like the partner teacher with the GLBT ally, since they teach my core class, so I was expecting her to reply. No replies from any other teachers. Will ask them in class about it tomorrow.

Drama teacher I had already come out to, told her about pronouns in person, she was cool with it. PE teacher I came out to, she basically ignored me when I asked about pronouns and just said she would stop saying "Miss" __nameigoby__. I guess I'll have to go back sometime later and bug her about pronouns because I am SURE she's just avoiding the whole thing.

With my friends, I didn't really hear anybody using pronouns. One guy in my chem class did correct himself, I was surprised cause he didn't really seem the accepting type, but I guess I judged. The group of friends who I had to let know on Myspace because they don't have Facebook are still using female pronouns so I am not sure they even saw the blog. Will have to talk to them about that, but I'm sure they'll be okay with it once I get on their case about it.

And some kid screamed out SHE'S MUSCULAR when I was changing the set in Drama, I let it slide cause I really didn't wanna come out in front of the whole class. I'll bug him about it later.
Title: Re: So, I just came out.
Post by: Patriciaz on December 09, 2008, 10:01:35 AM
You go girl! Good attitude and positive thinking.
Just don't push people beyond their current limits of acceptance. That should all come in time.
Title: Re: So, I just came out.
Post by: tekla on December 09, 2008, 10:09:01 AM
I doubt that most college teachers would have a problem, whatever, & go on from there.  At the most, even if you get attached to a student, they are going to be there four/five years max.  Most students are like spring snow storms, dump a little overnight, melt away in the morning.  So its easiest just to go along and get along.
Title: Re: So, I just came out.
Post by: JonasCarminis on December 09, 2008, 05:25:53 PM
Quote from: Patriciaz on December 09, 2008, 10:01:35 AM
You go girl! Good attitude and positive thinking.
Just don't push people beyond their current limits of acceptance. That should all come in time.

>_>
Title: Re: So, I just came out.
Post by: icontact on December 09, 2008, 06:05:40 PM
Quote from: Chet on December 09, 2008, 05:25:53 PM
Quote from: Patriciaz on December 09, 2008, 10:01:35 AM
You go girl! Good attitude and positive thinking.
Just don't push people beyond their current limits of acceptance. That should all come in time.

>_>

>.>;



Turns out my math teacher received the email and just didn't want to reply, so she's cool. And chem teacher just didn't receive the email at all, so I'm resending and hoping she gets it, because even though I know she'll be okay with it, I'm still nervous. Spanish teacher I forgot to ask about it because she kept us after and I was worrying about being late to chem.

Heard another obvious "he" in reference to me today. :) AND from another unexpected person as well. Kinda ironic. It's gonna take some getting used to on my part as well. When someone says she, I immediately pick up on it and go into frustratedannoyed mode in like half a second flat. But when someone says he, it's like swimming through mud, I catch it about three seconds after it's been said and am like, REAL slow, ...are they referring to meeeee?
Title: Re: So, I just came out.
Post by: Ms.Behavin on December 16, 2008, 12:00:48 AM
Congrats on the Big step. I found that not everyone accepted me at first, but after a while, things settled down.  It's also more relaxing to be OUT.  Brave Lad.  Just be you.

Beni
Title: Re: So, I just came out.
Post by: Janet_Girl on December 16, 2008, 12:19:40 AM
freespeechz'

You da man.  Why to go! Full time not far off now.

I used MySpace to come out to the world.

Janet