Imagine a world where we all respected each other as human beings. There would be peace and harmony among the diversity that is the human race. People of different religions (or no religion) can coexist without feeling offended about holidays. We would be tolerant and accepting of one another regardless of where we stand on politics. But alas, some people cannot get along for something as simple of the color of another person's skin. We have a long way to go, and part of it is just learning how to be more open-minded. However, another important aspect of making change is to stand true to who you are.

Remember, when you came out, you did it for you, not for the people around you. Yes, you might have felt like they deserve to know the real you. For that reason, you probably came out to the people you felt like you trust the most. The truth is, people can disappoint you in ways you would never imagine. The last person you think would ever be homophobic might be the most bigoted person you'll ever meet. If that's the case, you might feel like coming out was a mistake.

Never let anyone make you regret coming out. Don't waiver in your decision to declare who you are. People react dramatically, and sometimes even violent towards things they don't understand. Sometimes, they just don't want to understand and see their truth as the only truth. No matter how adamant someone is that your identity is wrong or immoral, any indication that you are unsure feeds into their belief that they are right.

Coming out is never a mistake, so don't ever let anyone make you feel like it is. Your identity is not a mistake. You know who you are. The only mistake here is someone missing out on the wonderful human being that is you.