Invitation to Authenticity
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Perhaps it is time to reframe the "coming out" concept. I saw a social media post somewhere recently that said something to the effect of "we are not coming out, we are inviting you in" which was not only inspiring to me but empowering.
When someone chooses to invite you into their inner life, it requires great courage and vulnerability on their part. We would do well to honor that bravery with open hearts and compassionate listening. While identities and labels are not the whole picture, they can still be incredibly important for many people at different stages of their personal development.
I knew who I was as early as age 12, perhaps younger. My mother's loving acceptance when I first shared this part of myself with her long ago, at age 18, is a precious memory. Her response - "Are you any different than you were yesterday? No? Well, I don't love you any differently than I did yesterday. As your mom, I just want you to be safe and happy." How lucky I was, then and now.
To earn an invitation into someone's world requires patience, trust, and honor. We all have parts of ourselves that take courage to share. Meeting that courage with empathy creates a connection.
While we all do share a basic longing to love and be loved, we must acknowledge the unique challenges LGBTQIA+ people face in fully expressing who we are. Building a more just, inclusive world requires all of us to keep learning, listening, and growing.
What if we took the spirit of this reframing - leading with compassion for our shared humanity - and used it to build more accepting communities worldwide? As we walk alongside one another, perhaps we will discover more of what unites us than what divides us. There is hope in that journey, if we dare to take it. There is your invitation. RSVP
