Clinton Kelly warns people not to come out if they’re in a hostile environment: ‘If you live in a community where your personal safety is at risk, don’t come out. That might not be what everybody wants to hear. I just want you to be alive.’

https://www.pride.com/interviews/stacy-london

14 comments

  1. What a sad place this world has become.

    Sincerely

    Skeletor 💜

  2. Hiding is not enough protection. If we allow our society to target and abuse people, they will keep doing it. My high school students (in a small Appalachian town) were brutal to kids that they even suspected of being queer.

  3. Also, kids need to wait to come out to their religious or homophobic parents. At least until they are able to fully support themselves. Not just moved out and in college. If you rely on your parents to pay for school or even just need their signature on your FAFSA form, you cannot afford to be exiled/kicked out of your family.

  5. While it’s sad that this is the case it is also true… Coming out is a deeply personal choice in which we have to weigh our safety against our authenticity. I fully understand people staying in the closet due to safety concerns.

  9. I want to add: coming out is a very personal choice. You don’t owe that information to ANYONE. Your safety is more important than other people’s comfort. I know some people get bent out of shape over it, but that’s their problem to deal with. If you know for certain your family won’t have a good reaction, you don’t have to tell them. It’s on them for not making you feel safe to be honest with them.

  10. Sadly this is not wrong. Trump has weaponized law enforcement to go after the LGBTQ community and that with violent force. Already you have LGBTQ people getting rounded up and arrested without any charges being filed and with no way for them to defend themselves.

    It is absolutely not safe to be LGBTQ in America right now and I would not blame anybody for staying in the closet during this time.

  11. I honestly respect the heck out of these guys I watch them for years on what not to wear, and I’m watching their new show now and I just think they’re really genuine.

  12. As a man married to a trans woman, she right.

    Especially given that almost every trans person I’ve ever known or seen is “passing “ just keep it to yourself.

  13. I mean, yes and no. It is up to the individual and how bold and brave they are. Yes, absolutely make sure your personal safety is the top priority. But we also need people to stand up to adversity at home, to stand up to bullies, and to be that beacon of light shining in the darkness.

    I get it. I came out in a somewhat hostile environment too. I grew up in the shadow of Matt Shepard in a highly religious family and area. I was bullied and tormented, not only by my peers, but also by friends and family members, and trusted adults. That was the worst. But I came out anyway, boldly, brashly, unapologetically. To me – living my authentic truth was more important than my personal safety. I needed to come out because hiding who I was hurt me more than any mental, physical, or psychological violence against me did. Embracing my identity gave me a power that they could no longer use my identity to hurt me. I took that and made it my armor. Choosing to live authentically in the face of adversity was my rebellion and liberation.

    I can’t tell anyone else whether or not they should come out because that is a deeply personal decision. But now, when our community is under attack harder than it’s been in decades, I also don’t think it is right to tell people to stay hidden in their communities when visibility is so sorely needed. That decision needs to be left up to each of us individually, and we need to support those who are brave enough to stand up and speak out and push back. Staying silent, staying hidden, is not always the answer. The AIDS crisis of the 80’s should have taught us one thing: Silence equals Death. If we aren’t free to live our lives loudly, proudly, and authentically, what are we doing? We cannot cede our liberty and freedoms to people who would rather we didn’t exist. We occupy the same space, we breathe the same air, we bleed as red as they do. We deserve, at minimum, to exist as we are, to love who we love, and to feel safe doing so.

    So while yes, I understand the need to stay hidden for safety. I get that. But I also applaud those who are brave enough and bold enough to stand up to those who hate us and say no. To respond with authentic visibility. That is one of the bravest, most courageous ways to fight back. Just being one’s self.

    Let people know to consider their safety, but don’t tell people flat out to NOT come out. Don’t comply in advance. Don’t tell people to hide or not be who they are if they are willing to stand up and say no and make a difference. Doing so can squash advocacy and hope, and now, more than ever, we need hope. We need bravery. We need resistance. And we need solidarity. And that comes from visibility.

  14. A gay man who lives privileged telling others of minority groups to stay in the closet. Fuck his opinion on this.

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