What even does it mean to say "gay culture"? In mainstream gay media, the phrase almost always refers to a fairly specific subset of the LGBTQ "community" largely made up of white gay cis men - even though many of the battles won around queer rights were fought by people of colour, trans and gender-nonconforming folks, and queer women, and in fact the modern Pride movement itself was in large part initiated by Black trans women. And while, on one level, the book is a wild (if at times problematic) window into an era of gay culture 40 years in the past, it also felt like it had a lot to say about gay culture today. Yet, when AIDS hit a few years later, the same words of warning sounded almost prophetic. Upon publication, Faggots was dismissed by many as puritanical and self-loathing for its criticism of gay men's obsession with vanity, promiscuity and recreational drug use.
We have the ultimate in freedom – we have absolutely no responsibilities! – and we're abusing it. Following a man in his late 30s (based on Kramer himself) who is seeking out a loving, long-term relationship in a sea of hedonism, the novel has a clear message: gay men need to start loving each other instead of being so obsessed with getting fucked up and (literally and figuratively) fucking each other. I spent a few quiet afternoons reading his 1978 debut novel Faggots, a satirical (yet clearly autobiographical) look at the lives of gay men in 1970s New York City that he wrote just before AIDS made him a figurehead of American activism. However, the ghost of Larry Kramer very much remained in my own head as I made my way through a Pride month unlike any other.
Coming out is a lifelong journey, not something you do just once.If you live in an area where you don't feel you'd have a lot of support, look for online resources, support groups, and forums that could help you. That might be a friend, a teacher, a leader in your community, or mental health professional. If you're questioning your sexual identity, seek out people you know will be supportive.If you want people to know your sexual identity, go ahead and tell them. Don’t feel like you have to take things slow if you’re ready to come out.I hope you can understand and support me." Since I realized this, I’m feeling really happy and excited about falling in love. Say, "I love you, so I want to share something important with you. When you tell your parents, it might help to bring educational resources for parents who have queer children.Tell them, "Have you ever noticed that I always notice hot guys? That’s because I’m gay."
There’s no right or wrong way to come out.