Heather Corinna is a brilliant, hilarious sex educator who keeps it totally and utterly real in this dynamic piece that offers advice about coming out of the closet. The following is a sample, and one of my favorite sections, in Don't Let the Door Hit You on the Way Out.
Visit her sexuality education website for teens, Scarleteen, to have your questions about sex, sexuality and identity explored and to have a lot of fun while you do it.
Celebrate yourself.
In the midst of all the complexities there are in getting used to your sexual identity, and amid all the mistakes you'll make (because we all do), don't forget to take time out to really appreciate the good stuff. Realize that -- especially in our culture today -- it takes bravery and guts to be honest about your sexual identity. It takes a lot to make yourself a little more vulnerable for the sake of living honestly, but it's a really great thing. And while it's got it's rough spots, it usually feels really good.
So, do nice things for yourself. Have an "Out" party with some close friends. Pamper yourself. Get a new haircut, buy some new books. Explore it all -- write about what you're going through, talk to close friends you know are supportive, listen to music that makes you feel good about this.
As time goes by, the rough patches get a lot easier to get through, and your sexual identity through the years will become a more integral part of your entire personal identity. But while you're developing it, enjoy it. Sexuality is supposed to be about joy and about pleasure and about feeling good. Honor it, and you honor yourself. And file away the mistakes you made for some later date. You really will be able to laugh about them someday. Just perhaps not someday soon.
Leave a comment