As some of you may know. National Coming out Day is on October the 11th. As an LGBT person, coming out has pretty much shaped the person I am today. I’m not saying that being bisexual and transgender is my entire life. I am much more than just my sexuality and gender identity. Before coming out, however, I was not at all like I am today. Most of you reading this wouldn’t even recognise me. I was a shell of a person. And that’s why I’m writing this today, to tell my story and tell you all how coming out has changed my life for the better.

Coming out is one of the biggest things an LGBT person will ever do, and contrary to popular belief, it is an ongoing process. It’s not a one-time thing. I’m still trying to do it to people to this day. However, if you ask any LGBT person, we will all tell you the same thing. ‘Coming out gets easier the more you do it.’ It sounds cliché, but it’s very true. Not to sound like those cheesy self-help books, but things do get better. Nothing feels better than waking up knowing you can finally be yourself, I will never be as happy as the morning after I told my family that I’m male. Knowing you can walk around the house without ‘hiding’ is the best feeling, nothing will ever be as empowering for me. Being yourself for the first time ever is the best feeling ever.

National Coming Out Day

National Coming Out Day is here to raise awareness of how important coming out is for LGBT people. Research has shown that people are less likely to be phobic if they actually know someone who is LGBT, so obviously talking about it is very important. Which is why this coming out day, give the LGBT person in your life a hug or a high 5. Tell them you’re proud. If you don’t have an LGBT person in your direct circle, start a conversation. Talk to your workmates about coming out day, or school friends, or even your children. The more people know about National Coming out Day means fewer people will have a stigma against open LGBT people. Which in this world filled with hate, can only be a good thing, right?

Some of you reading this may have come out yourself, and if you have – I’m proud of you. Some may have LGBT relatives or friends. I’m proud of you for supporting your loved ones. Some of you reading this may not be out yet or be too scared to come out. I’m proud of you. It will be okay and you will be able to come out soon. I am proud of every single person reading this – as you have decided to get to this point in my blog. Meaning you care enough about coming out and LGBT people to learn. And for that, I would like to thank you all. Thank you all for reading this, I know it’s slightly different but I hope you’ve all enjoyed hearing a tiny bit about the life I’ve never really spoken about on Chewigem before.

Remember – there is never any pressure to come out. It should be done on your terms and nobody else’s. Happy National Coming out Day!