"October is, among other things, held up as LGBT History Month. Amidst that, October 11th, specifically, is 'National Coming-Out Day.' Now, this here's Tumblr… and it's a fairly safe space from what I've seen, and a place where people feel like they can be themselves, but that doesn't mean everyone who's ""free"" or ""out"" on Tumblr or other internet community sites is that free and out in their daily lives.  Or that they CAN be. I'm not going to go through a super-long post about this or get really personal with my own experience, but I feel it's important to mention the day and its significance.  I feel grateful that I can openly talk about Girlfriend on here (despite our super-complex relationship making that moniker just the best we can come up with), and that I have not received one bit of hate mail or one nasty comment about the fact that I do.  It's amazing… it really is.  It's how it should be, sure, but it still amazes me because I don't see this kind of openness and safety in the ""real world"" most of the time. So while I don't need to ""come out"" over Tumblr, and I'm not here to discuss my personal life, I wanted to clear my queue for the day and leave this post up for the entirety of October 11th (it's going to be hard, you guys, I'm an addict) in support of those who feel they can't come out anywhere.  In support of those who feel like their families and friends will never understand them.  In support of those who fear for their lives should anyone find out their secret, or because they already know.  In support of those who are bullied, outcast, persecuted and injured.  In support of those who have lost their lives because of their sexuality, whether at the hands of others or their own. I'd never encourage someone to come out just because someone put a name on a particular calendar date, but it's at least a day to reflect on the act and the feelings and implications wrapped up in it… whether you haven't yet, already have, or don't need to, it's still something to think about. Sidenote:  Today's calendar designation is 10/11/12.  That's fun on its own, right? ♥♥♥"
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