Matt

• About 5 years ago, upon moving back to Seattle, my parents were coming to town and wanted to get dinner. I said I'd bring my bf of 3 years. "No thanks." If he wasn't invited, then I wasn't interested in dinner. So they relented and dinner was fine.

We broke up a month later. When my mom heard, her reply was "What a waste." When I asked if she would say something like that about an ex of my brother or sister's after they broke up? "Of course not."

While there are (sadly) more anecdotes, the point in writing this is not to discourage you. I am 40 but I have a good career at an amazing company that allows me to fight for better diversity & inclusivity at our company and in the industry.

I have some of the best coworkers I have ever been lucky enough to have (those of you who have left, you know I <3 you too) I am finally done letting people who don't understand a core part of me control part of my life.

I try to speak on panels like the "Queering up Diversity" PAX talks because we deserve to see our industry improve, as well as hold it accountable when it isn't. There are brilliant & brave pioneers proudly working to improve things across the US across every field:

If you don't already, consider following people like @cmclymer and @cherryrae and @GordonBellamy and @MataHaggis and @dirtbagboyfren and @PeteButtigieg -- don't let others control your fate or your happiness. These are some people who are inspiring to me;find your inspiration!

To roll back allll the way before this happened, I remember having a talk with a then-out friend and asking "Why do you need to come out? It isn't anyone else's business" -- he laughed and said he got to a point where NOT saying something felt like he was ashamed of himself.

"I understand," I said, "But I don't think that will ever be me." Less than a year later it was. It may have taken me almost 2 decades since then to finally say F It fully, but I did. Even if some of my "blood family" doesn't want to associate with me anymore,