It was May 12, 2013 and little did I know that it was going to be the most life-changing day as I planned to come out as gay to all of my classmates and peers.
Let's look back a little, to where I came to terms that I was gay. In middle school, boys my age began to ask girls out on dates and love interests between boys and girls became more common. I did not understand how and why I did not feel the same way as many of these boys did. Why was I not attracted to Ali, but more jealous that she got the new Uggs with the pink sparkles? Why did I not laugh when boys would say "boobs" but would gossip when I found out Paul kissed Brooke at the boy-girl party last weekend? I did not understand at all.
I found out what being "gay" was around seventh grade. I was watching random videos on YouTube and on the sidebar underneath the "Suggested Videos for You," there was a gay marriage ceremony video. Being a curious teenager, I clicked on the video and was immediately mesmerized by it. Two beautiful men were in suits and ties, behind an altar, and reciting their vows. It was a beautiful ceremony and I knew at that moment, I am attracted to men and I will marry a man one day.
Through the rest of my middle school years, I experimented with many things. I wore my sister's UGGs and Juicy Couture jackets to school. I wore my sister's eyeliner and her mascara. I have always been a very confident person, so when my classmates would stare at me while I walked down the hall in a Juicy Couture sweatsuit, I found that flattering because I thought they were jealous of how good I looked. My flamboyant attitude transferred into my high school years. I toned down wearing my sister's clothing to wearing men's skinny jeans and styling my outfits in a very feminine way.
Going into high school, many of my classmates knew what "gay" meant. It became a daily question, "Charles, are you gay?" I was beyond terrified of answering, "yes." What if people judged me? What if I became an outcast? No, I will deny it until the day I graduate high school and get as far as possible from everyone so then I can live my life.
Well, I could not wait exactly four years to deny it. Around my second semester junior year, I began to tell my diving teammates. It began with a fellow teammate. For the next two months, she supported me as I told my parents and both of my sisters, who supported my lifestyle and still do, today. After coming out to my parents and watching numerous coming out videos on YouTube, I decided that I wanted to be as creative as possible and post a coming out Instagram.
It's May 12, 2013 and I am seconds away from posting the most important picture. One of my very good friends, Taylor took my picture in a nearby park. We sat on a park bench together adding a filter and making sure everything is perfect. We held hands as I clicked the "upload" button. The most massive weight came off my shoulders as I saw likes and such kind messages began to pour into my phone from all of my peers.
The day after I came out, it was a Monday. All of my friends congratulated me, and even some teachers! I was lucky enough to even be the cover story for our school- wide newspaper! I am so lucky to live in such an amazing place where being gay is not looked down upon but, accepted and embraced. Today, I am able to be my crazy, outrageous, and weird self and love every minute of it.
