BRADY
MINNESOTA | SERIES # 4
One thing I would suggest to LGBTQ+ people struggling in life would be to force yourself to open up. I didn’t come out until over six years after I first knew I was gay, and while I’m glad I waited until I felt safe and comfortable, if I had the chance I think I’d do things a little different. Looking back, I now realize I was lucky enough to have a support group in my life without even realizing it — I had friends I was confident would accept me and I had no reason to believe my family wouldn’t either. But the fear of being exposed or ostracized kept me from being open with a single person in my life. I am now beginning to realize how damaging that can be. So I implore you to, as long as you feel safe, open up to somebody that you love. Whether it be a family member, a friend, a social media mutual, or someone else entirely, it is so much easier to be yourself when you don’t feel completely alone. And if you haven’t found a person who you feel you can be open with… trust me, they are out there. You will find each other.
