Come Out Come Out Wherever You Are | Teen Ink

Come Out Come Out Wherever You Are

December 26, 2017
By NimWallace PLATINUM, North Smithfield, Rhode Island
NimWallace PLATINUM, North Smithfield, Rhode Island
38 articles 0 photos 41 comments

Favorite Quote:
A writer is a world trapped inside a person


I was never interested in guys.


Sure, I liked to hang out with them, but as far as dating, I could never understand the appeal.


Teenage boys are. . .well, I don't want to generalize. I've a met a lot of really nice and intelligent teenage boys. But I've also met quite a few stupid and rude ones.


I could never imagine kissing a boy.


They were all taller—what if I couldn't reach? And what would they do? Teenage boys are notoriously horny. What if they did something I was uncomfortable with? I don't think I would've enjoyed it at all.


I grew up in a very Christian environment. The women at our church were always giving lectures on “waiting till marriage,” and “not dating until we're eighteen,” and even “what it means to be a good wife.”


They always made me a little angry, and I never knew why. I guess I thought it was because I was capable of making my own decisions.


What if I wanted to date at sixteen? What if I didn't want to get married? Or, God forbid, what if I didn't want to have children?


I don't think anyone really considered the possibility that I was gay. They mostly thought I was a late bloomer.
I endured endless winks of “you will someday.” You will someday want a husband. You will someday kiss a boy. You will someday want to have children.


The more they pushed, the surer I became.


I don't think I really realized it completely until recently.


I just assumed they were right, that I'd like guys eventually. But I never did. I started thinking of the same things I'd been taught to picture with guys with girls instead. Holding hands. Kissing. Dating. Marriage.


Then I started noticing the differences in how I was attracted to girls. Sure, I could tell when a guy was good looking, but it was a completely different thing with girls. I noticed far more things. Smooth skin. Round lips. Pretty eyes. Curvy hips. It made me nervous.


I kinda always assumed I'd just end up alone. If I didn't like guys, I couldn't like anyone, right? So I pushed all that stuff out of my head.


But I kinda knew I'd have to face it eventually.


I was scared.
I'd heard stories—kids whose parents had kicked them out, people who waited for a failed marriage before facing their sexuality, kids who got beaten up and made fun of.


So I did a sort of test coming out to a group of friends.


They were all very Christian, but they were also all very kind. And I didn't care if they rejected me. So I told them.


There was a moment of short collective silence before one of them kindly asked if there was anyone liked. I replied yes, and they asked if they knew her. They treated it like it wasn't a big deal—as if I'd said I liked dogs better than cats.


I want it to be like that for everyone.


On Christmas day, I stood in front of my entire family and asked for their attention. I started to shake uncontrollably. I could feel my mother's eyes on me.


I choked out it out, and immediately, there was a barrage of comforting comments. “Is that all?” “We don't mind” “You still the same person” “We still love you.”


I was so relieved I started to cry. I was so afraid they'd try to fix me, try to “look past it” or even try to change it. But it just goes to show even Christians can be accepting. I no longer felt so alienated, like they'd hate me if they knew.


I know everyone isn't that lucky. But thank God I was. Someday, I want to live in a world where it's like that for everyone. Where there is no hatred and fear, but only acceptance. I think we're on our way there. 


The author's comments:

Not everyone is a good person, but most people are good people


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This article has 4 comments.


on Mar. 7 2018 at 5:57 pm
NimWallace PLATINUM, North Smithfield, Rhode Island
38 articles 0 photos 41 comments

Favorite Quote:
A writer is a world trapped inside a person

(Same here) And thank you :) I hope your (family? friends?) come to accept you as mine did me. If they don't, you have me (LGBT+ stick together, yeah?) :)

on Mar. 6 2018 at 2:55 pm
bo_olsen PLATINUM, Nampa, Idaho
28 articles 1 photo 60 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good"

I am also really really glad that you had a good experince with your coming out :) My coming out was a little rockier, but I think we're moving past it. I do really like this article. It's well written, and very grammatically correct (which I do look for. Grammatically incorrect things bug me) so, good job :)

on Jan. 1 2018 at 2:53 pm
NimWallace PLATINUM, North Smithfield, Rhode Island
38 articles 0 photos 41 comments

Favorite Quote:
A writer is a world trapped inside a person

I'm glad! I hope someday it's like that for everyone :)

m1na GOLD said...
on Jan. 1 2018 at 2:15 pm
m1na GOLD, Olympia, Washington
12 articles 0 photos 91 comments
I'm so glad that you have such accepting friends and family. My coming out experience was thankfully similar to yours.