Blaise Imiolczyk  🏳️‍🌈

According to Facebook, I came out as gay 10 years ago today. Little did I know, I would come out again twice more (pan and nb). A thread: CW: Violence

Now that I think about it, I didn't really come out three times. As LGBTQIA+ folks, we come out almost every day - when we meet new friends, new coworkers, and people that didn't know. Even strangers, sometimes.

I've had a rough time since I came out ten years ago. I was forced to leave home at a very young age to fend for myself. I learned do Adult™ real quick. Ended up with a full time job right out of high school, while studying at uni full time (18 yo). Hard to juggle, for sure.

I've faced some pretty crappy things in the world because I'm LGBTQIA+, some sad, but some downright scary. I got death threats in my mailbox at 19 and a few weeks later I was cornered walking home in the dark by a few guys who ended up beating me. I thought I was gonna die.

Growing up, I didn't wanna be different. I didn't wanna be gay. Life would be so much easier if I was straight. I used to waste my wish on my birthdays and my 11:11's and my shooting stars on wanting to be the same as the other kids.