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Politics and Activism

In Honor Of "Coming Out Day"

Why you and the groups you identify as are valid.

Corby Smith

Oct 18, 2016

Delaware College of Art and Design

Wikipedia

National Coming Out Day was this past Tuesday, so I thought I'd share some thoughts.

First off, I'm so proud of anyone who came out this past week because of Coming Out Day, or anyone that is celebrating a coming-out-anniversary. You are brave and amazing and you deserve to love or not love whoever you want. You deserve to be in the body and the assigned gender that feels right for you. You deserve to be able to say no, and if you haven't come out yet, know that it's okay. There will be a time when you feel safe and secure enough to do so. There will be someone or a group of someones that will come along and make you feel good about yourself and will support your choices and will ultimately help you to live your best life.

I'm so happy that I'm apart of a community (school, work, and family/friends) that will support me no matter what, but I know this is not always the case. If you don't have a support system or a group in which you feel safe to be you, just know that there are so many people out there who are struggling in similar ways. In this day and age, I like to think we are moving forward, however slowly, to be more positive and ethical and understanding of the human condition. But I know that's not entirely true, so here is my tip to you: anyone who is vicious or mean and refuses to even try to understand another's point of view is not worth your time. If you think you can help them become less ignorant, then great! If not, don't waste your time or energy because it will just put you down

Asexual, bisexual, pansexual, heterosexual, homosexual, transsexual, male, female — you get the idea — and everything in between: you matter and you deserve the best things out of life. I don't care how cheesy this sounds because we are not told this enough. It is okay and encouraged to be your authentic self. You deserve to identify as whatever you damn well please because anything less than that is not okay.

In the words of Aibileen Clark from The Help:

"You is kind. You is smart. You is important."

And don't you ever forget it!

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In Honor Of "Coming Out Day"

Why you and the groups you identify as are valid.

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The Best Lines from the Fab Four

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make

The sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful and so are you

Love is old, love is new, love is all, love is you

There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be

Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend

He say, "I know you, you know me", One thing I can tell you is you got to be free

Oh please, say to me, You'll let me be your man. And please say to me, You'll let me hold your hand

It was twenty years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play. They've been going in and out of style, but they're guaranteed to raise a smile

Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see

Can you hear me? When it rains and shine, it's just a state of mind

Little darling, it's been long cold lonely winter. Little darling, it feels like years since it' s been here. Here comes the sun, Here comes the sun, and I say it's alright

We danced through the night and we held each other tight, and before too long I fell in love with her. Now, I'll never dance with another when I saw her standing there

I love you, I love you, I love you, that's all I want to say

You say you want a revolution. Well you know, we all want to change the world

All the lonely people, where do they all come from. All the lonely people, where do they all belong

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends

Hey Jude, don't make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they're here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday

And when the brokenhearted people, living in the world agree, there will be an answer, let it be.

And anytime you feel the pain, Hey Jude, refrain. Don't carry the world upon your shoulders

I'll give you all I got to give if you say you'll love me too. I may not have a lot to give but what I got I'll give to you. I don't care too much for money. Money can't buy me love

All you need is love, love is all you need

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, Take these broken wings and learn to fly. All your life, You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Though I know I'll never lose affection, for people and things that went before. I know I'll often stop and think about them. In my life, I love you more

Obviously the best superpower.

There have been many lessons learned.

1. The importance of traditions.

2. How to be thankful for family and friends.

3. How to give back.

4. What the word "community" really means.

5. That it isn't about the destination, but the journey.

6. The consequences of making bad choices.

7. To trust people, until you have a reason not to.

8. To be welcoming and accepting of everyone.

9. How to be my own, individual person.

10. How to work for what I want.

11. How to be great at giving directions.

12. How to be humble.

13. To be well-rounded.

14. How to be great at conflict resolution.

15. The beauty of getting outside and exploring.

16. To be prepared for anything.

17. That you don't always have to do it alone.

18. How to be creative.

19. To brush off gossip.

I have never been so thankful to know you.

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

Don't freak out

Email the professor

Attend the first class

Keep attending class

Have a backup plan

Remember that everything works out at the end

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