"Help Me Live with Myself..."

As we celebrate Pride Month, I would like to post a brief note shared by a friend from Queer Community.?

I asked my closeted friend “ As an ally, what can we ( workplace or society)do to make you feel comfortable to come out” . Below is the heartwarming response I got…?

He said: Help me Live with myself...

"I am a man of high Integrity, but every moment I spend closeted… I am living a lie.. help me not lie to you about me.

Allow me to honestly confess that I like Harvey Spector and don’t feel drawn towards Donna or Jessica, no matter how attractive they may seem to you.

Let me not lie to you about my sister in law's (partner’s sister) wedding as my friend's?sister wedding and fail to convince you why it’s important for me to be there as family and not as a family friend.

Make me feel safe about putting up my actual authentic profile on dating apps or attend our community party (without worrying about my colleagues finding out if my picture gets posted on social media) so I can find?my potential partner and friends... and not compel me to live a closeted lonely life…alone!?

Don’t rush in labelling my cis het friends as queer only because they stand by me as my ally and empathise with my journey. Let’s not penalise them for their sensitivity.?

I don’t, for the moment atleast, expect you to understand me or embrace my way of being as right for you. That will happen when you are willing to give up changing me into a copy of you.

Just putting up with me and not getting disappointed, irritated or disgusted with me for my seeming waywardness or with my world view or my life choices, is the first step to help me get comfortable “with myself” around you.

All I ask is help me uphold my dignity in my own eyes by creating a safe space to be “My Whole self… Be Me” around you. Because every time I don’t have to lie to you about me… is a step closer to 'YOU' helping?Me believe in myself and respectfully letting me live with myself!

#Allyship #PRIDE #PRIDEMONTH #Ally #lgbtqai