I have been seeing this gentlemen for years whenever necessary. He is openly gay and we have developed a lovely patient/client relationship. I knew when I went into see him last week that I wanted to share my coming out with him but I chickened out. Yesterday I arrived 10 minutes early, sitting in my car built up the courage to have this discussion. As I started to sit on his table, I told him that I needed to talk to him first about something. I told him I was gay and am working on coming out. We spent the next 20 minutes talking about our lives and his history with coming out, sharing with me his experience as a gay man in our community. I felt so relieved and grateful for his compassionate friendship and willingness to be open to discussing his process and making suggestions for my journey. As I am writing this, I realize that I really need to write him a personal note thanking him for being such a good friend. I am now +4, therapists, sister, chiropractor - really +5 if I consider myself which I truly belive is the most important person to come out to. I have also changed my status to 90% gay, much in the way of the Quaker tradition of nothing being 100% but also I have not had a relationship with another man. Thanks EC folks for listening - J
Congratulations (!) I'm not out to anyone but hearing your positive story. Makes it easier for me to want to come out.
