Thoughts of the Week:

I have seen this question come up a bunch: "Is it too late to transition?", "Is it too late to come out as LGBTQ+?" The people I have seen this question posed to most often are younger adults in their late teens (18-19) to early 20s. I understand that coming out is a terrifying and courageous thing to do. You get nervous and sweaty; your heart rate goes through the roof as you think of all the possible ways the conversation could go. This is where being young helps you in the long run of "Being Your True Self." Even with how the world is looking at the LGBTQ+. You have the rest of your lives to live, to love, to find yourself.

You might feel that you have missed out on the life you could have had. I fight those feelings every day. I was not able to come out when I was younger, in my preteen years, or even in my mid-teen years. See, I grew up in the 80s, where being gay was considered a death sentence. This is when AIDS/HIV was most prevalent. There was no treatment for this horrific disease. Back then, there was not nearly as much information as there is today. I had no words to tell anyone how I was feeling, other than "I am a girl." I was scared to tell my parents this because I thought they would send me to see a psychologist to make me stop believing I was a girl. This belief stuck with me for 33 years.

I understand the struggle of being yourself. Life is difficult enough without having to battle your feelings and your fears. If you are not able to or are uncomfortable with coming out to your family and/or your friends, remember "It Is Never To Late" to be yourself. Take your time figuring out what/who you are and what you are feeling. Your feelings are valid; listen to them.