Closets, Closets, Closets, OH MY!

Alrighty, 'mosexuals, the title says it all. Y'all know I'm out and proud, have been for sixteen years, and wouldn't have it any other way, no matter what hardships I might have endured, because as we all know 

However, something we never really discuss is the fact that there are many different kinds of closets. One can be out in one aspect of her life, and closeted in another. Now, let's discuss the different kinds of closets, shall we?

First, we have the INTERNET CLOSET.

You know what I'm talking about, dykes. It's that person that is supposedly out and proud, but insists that if anything gay makes it into that facebook timeline or twitter feed, their life is simply OMFG FUCKING OVER! She can tell all kinds of folks she's gay, just not those people. 

The second closet is a common one,and pretty understandable: The 

WORK CLOSET

Now, considering the fact that you can still be fired for being gay in twenty- nine states and in thirty- four for being transgender, this one gets a pass. We are not all fortunate enough to work for LGBT friendly employers, and it is honestly often more trouble than it's worth to come out at work.

This next closet annoys me to no end. The dreaded

FAMILY CLOSET

This one annoys me because it affects so many people. You are hiding a part of yourself from the people who love you the most, and hey, let's face it- they raised you. They probably already know anyway. And, furthermore, like anyone else, if the bitches don't take it well, that is their problem, not yours. You have your Rainbow Family to support you. 

After all, where do you think the term "family" for the LGBT community came from? Because we are your family when your blood relatives won't be. 

Last, but certainly not least, my lovelies, we have what I like to refer to as the 

BACK HOME CLOSET

This is an all too familiar story for many queer identified people. You know the drill, lessies. You go off to college or move to a big city and are totally out in your life there, but, the problem is, nobody from where you came from knows a thing about your new gay life. You continue to hide it, when you go back for say, the dreaded

All of a sudden, you go back in time, to being that scared little girl you always were, who hid the deepest, truest part of herself. But why? Why do you care what these people think? You have a new life now. The fact that you still hide who you are from them means you most certainly do care, and that's a damn shame.

The point is, lovely lesbos, a closet is a closet is a closet, no matter to what degree, or it comes in. You cannot claim the title of OUT when you aren't. End of story. So, in short, 

COME OUT, COME OUT, WHERE EVER YOU ARE!

Series:Dykin' It Up: Episode 6: Coming Out

Yo Lesbos! Yup, you guessed it, time for another series post. Now, there have been many things we have discussed here, from homophobia to sex. However, it seems I have left out one of the most basic triumphs any LGBT person can achieve: 

Now, anyone who is here probably knows how hard coming out is, and we all  have our stories. Here is mine, and I'd like you to share yours as well, right in the comments!

I consider October 1,1996 to be my out date. But the thing is dykes, I didn't come out. I had the dreaded Involuntary Outing happen to me. It all started with a crush on a cheerleader.

Typical, I know. But my mistake was telling the wrong person, and have her tell the whole school. Needless to say, in a southern high school in the 90's, this meant that the rest of my high school life was a living hell. It even got so bad that kids threw eggs at me and screamed homophobic slurs. 

But, little did she know, that backstabbing ex- friend did me a favor. She outed me so that I wouldn't have to out myself. I've always been "clockable" as gay. And, while it has certainly not been smooth sailing, it is a whole lot easier to just tell people rather than having them whisper behind my back. I've been out and proud for 16 years now, and, despite the hardships, I wouldn't have it any other way.

Happy National Coming Out Day!

I hope you all had an enjoyable one. If you were in the closet, I hope you found the courage to use today to come out to at least one person, or, even better, come all the way out and wave that Pride Flag

high, loud, and proud. If you were already out, I hope you found a few random people to come out to today, like I did, and have every year since I have been aware that we had a day just for Coming out. My people this year? Random people in a convenience store. 

Before I asked for my cigarettes and flashed my ID, I simply said to the clerk, "Happy National Coming Out Day!" 

He gave me that blank, but obligatory smile we have all seen on the faces of store clerks 

and said in a confused tone, "Excuse me?" 

So, I patiently explained to him that I am gay and that it is National Coming Out day and that 

to him. He looked confused, and so did the woman in line behind me, so I grinned at him, asked for my cigs while flashing my ID,  happily took my change, flashed him my most winning smile, and left. I am sure he, and the women in line, thought I was insane, but so be it, win some, lose some, and, at the end of the day, I honored National Coming Out Day 2011 by coming out to someone new, and that is what is important. This day should be important to ALL LGBT people and allies. I will leave you with the most beautiful video I have seen advocating LGBT rights in a long time. Hope your National Coming Out Day was a good one, Dykes.