How I Found An LGBTQ+ Community

It’s kind of funny. I was watching “Elementary” on TV with my friend and there was a character, Natalie Dormer as Irene Adler and Moriarty, that I couldn’t shut up about for days. Then I was like, “Oh, this means I’m gay.”

With friends, I didn’t really come out to them; I just don’t pretend to be someone that I am not. I just am myself, and people pick up on that.

Whereas, with family, I imagine we’d have to sit down and have a talk. I probably will come out to my family if I’m seeing somebody.

No one has treated me differently after finding out I was LGBTQ+. That’s because everyone I hang out with also is and they all came out before me.

I think coming out is still hard. I think it’s partially dependent on where you live.

I think New York, for instance, is a little easier to come out in because it’s a big city, so you can find other LGBTQ+ people. I think in small towns where you’re the only one, or one of five people, it’s harder.

I think homophobia has gotten worse since the passage of marriage equality. Before that, people were like, “I don’t mind it as long as I don’t have to work with it.” And now it’s like, “because people are getting married, I do have to work with it and I can be vocal about it.”

I don’t think marriage equality solved anything. I definitely don’t think there’s enough media representation. I think we’re doing better, but, I don’t think we’re anywhere close to being welcoming enough.