Dan's Speech

by Derek Stanley

Dan was tapping his foot and bouncing his leg. He had never done anything like this before. So many people, so many parents, even his own watching him. He had come out to people before, but not so many and wasn’t trying to teach them how to help their own kids. He had a plan though and was ready, just really really nervous. In his head, the new pink song "Try" was playing in his head, encouraging him to do it even if he gets hurt. 

"And now Dan will be talking about coming out."

The nervous energy flowed through his body, he couldn’t sit still.

He thought about the first time he had come out. It was to his friend John, the trusted one. John had listen to his friends story, and afterwards he just gave him a hug and let tears flow from Dan's eyes. Dan felt like it was his first time again, and he was hoping John would show up to make him feel better. He had no time though his time was now. He got out of his seat and went up to the podium. All eyes were on him, and he could feel the sweet flowing down his temples. "Okay you can do this" and he started but completely disregarded what he had written down:

"Guys I need to tell you something, I'm bisexual and transgender... ok, now that that's off my chest i can continue. It was easier for me to come out because i know this is a safe spot and I know there are people here to support me, but it is still difficult. I mean, there is that chance that you, my parents, peers, and fellow people might act differently now that you do know or treat me differently. Here's the thing it takes so much come out to you. And so many kids and adults don’t have what I have. They live in a community where it is unacceptable and disgraceful. Those teens and even adults are held back from truly expressing themselves because of who they chose to kiss.

Courage and trust those are what help someone come out. Lets start with trust. In a town like are’s, which is accepting, finding people who you trust and have faith in to keep your secret or let it just be is pretty easy because everyone is generally supportive. However, if you think your child is gay, do not force it out of them. It does not help and does not work. In some teens it causes them to close up because they feel like it is wrong to be gay or bisexual or whatever they are. Let them have enough trust in you so they can come out on their own time.

For me, coming out was not easy. I didn’t know if I could trust that my parents and if they would accept me. My friends are all rulers and I am a protractor so it felt like they would treat me differently, so I stayed quiet and tried to fit in with everyone else, which was pretty easy being bisexual. However I still felt like an outcast. Then I met Will and Matt. They are both openly gay so I felt like they could relate. I asked them both how did they know and they both said

“I just knew, it wasn’t like a choice, it was always that way.”

Those words filled me hope, hope to be normal. But not just hope, I also felt something different. Courage, courage to stand for who I am and be open.

Courage can do that, make you more able to be open and express who you are in your own way. Some are not so lucky as I was. They live in community’s that reject the slightest implication. And it hurts when you aren’t accepted, or loved. But you can help make this a community where it is safe and comfortable to come out, to be who you are. Express creativity without worry, whether your straight or gay or anything in-between. Coming takes trust and courage. Let them tell you when they are ready, when they trust you, when they have the courage to be themselves. When they’re ready. So I came out to you, and if you want you can come out to me.”

Dan stood there for a moment. Not a sound the second he stopped. His heart race increased as he looked for a reaction in the crowd. He looked over to his friends on the side of the stage. Then the auditorium erupted with cheering and clapping. Joy rose through Dan. A huge smile lightened on his face. He smiled and felt a weight lift and went off to join his friends. He felt accepted by his whole community. His family his friends everyone. His friends gave him high-fives as he joined them and sat down to hear the other speeches for the GSA community speech. The leader was now standing at the podium.

“Give it up for Dan!”

The cheers rose once again. And as the leader continued to talk Dan fell into a calm joy.