Happy National Coming Out Day!

In honor of National Coming Out Day, or as my friends at BornLikeThis.org call it, coming in. BornLikeThis.org was created by 6 very brave young men from NYU who want to give hope to youth who are dealing with the same obstacles these boys face, being a part of the LGBT community. Their heart-rendering testimonies brought me to tears as they each shared their own "coming out day". Some were kicked out of their homes or disowned by their families. Eduardo told how it was through his strong and supportive friend group that he was able to cope and move on to a successful life he is proud to live. Realizing that not everyone has friends like Joe or Johnny in his/her life, these boys have come out online to give their support to struggling LGBT youth around the world.

Their mission is simple: you were born like this. This is not just a phrase to them, they call it a "thought revolution". Striving not only to change the way the world views the LGBT community, but more importantly, Joe, Johnny, Colin, Eduardo, Adam, Zaneta, and Stephen want to change the way LGBT youth view themselves.

So here's my challenge to you this Coming Out Day: come in to your own skin. Accept and love yourself, find what makes you, you and embrace it. Today go out and celebrate yourself, whoever or however you may be. And while you're at it, give a little shout out to the people who have inspired you to do so.

Thanks, Born Like This. Today I've been inspired.




My Brothers and I marching with the Born Like This boys and the Delta Lambda Phi Fraternity in the 2010 New York Pride Parade.