Coming out?

Brighton Pride 2011

Kids these days are being persuaded to embrace their sexual orientation and to come out if they define themselves as anything other than heterosexual.

"Be proud of who you are," we say, "Don't hide in the closet," we shout. Sorry but, where did this closet actually come from? Is anything else in the closet? Are spare clothes in the closet too? Cause I'd quite like a new dress.

If you're not 'out', being 'in the closet' sounds like you're hiding, which isn't always the case. What's wrong with not telling people? It's not their business to know. Will your sexual orientation affect the way that they live their life? Is withholding such a trivial matter going to cause them harm? Does it change your personality?


While I agree that you should embrace yourself and who you are, I see almost no point in 'coming out' at all.

Note: When I say 'coming out', I mean making a ceremony/big deal out of it. I'm not saying don't do this, I'm saying I don't think it's always necessary.

I understand that it feels great to get a weight off of your chest (and it feels awesome, coming from personal experience) - but unless you're dating someone, why does it matter?

If someone asks you what your sexual orientation is because they wish to date you etc, by all means, tell them, because then they have a right to know; it's like asking if someone's single. But otherwise, I don't see why people need to know.

There have been several young people who have asked members of the gay community if they should come out, even though they may get kicked out/disowned/killed. Unless you have a back-up plan, don't risk coming out if it could negatively impact your life to such a large degree - it isn't worth it

Sexuality doesn't have to be this big deal, it's just something that exists within you.

"I'm gay" is also like me saying, "I like pizza" -- a fact about me that does not affect you, the way you function or my personality. I am more than JUST a girl who likes pizza.

You are more than your sexual orientation.

I'm not saying never come out, or I would be a hypocrite; come out if it will make you happy, not because you feel it's something that an LGBTQ person has  to do.

Romance shrouded in tragedy

I've always had a fond admiration of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, which has been heightened due to watching the 1968 film adaption for the first time earlier on.

Prior to then, I had only studied the play and watched the 1996 film adaption.

Romeo and Juliet [1968]

 
The scene that always makes me emotional is the double suicide.

No matter how many times I see it, it never fails to make me cry. I assumed that this time I wouldn't be affected; the first time will provoke the strongest of emotions, but more and more exposure will dull the sensation. I wasn't breaking down, but I still cried, it still got to me.

I think it's partly due to frustration - Romeo was absurdly close to being told of Juliet's feigned death, then he killed himself right before Juliet woke up. Curses!

When I was younger, I viewed Romeo and Juliet as a powerful and beautiful romance, forgetting that...suicide isn't cute. For them to go that far for each other due to an initial misunderstanding, it's awful, but that's what makes me like it so much. In other words - it's a tragedy, but one that shouldn't be inspiring the youth of today. Ever.

It's beautiful, but in a mobid sense.

I do wish that more emphasis was put on the family feud though. Yeah, they had two big fights and Mercutio and Tybalt died, but I don't know why I feel unsatisfied.

I think what would have sufficed was if it the head Montagues and Capulets knew about their childrens' forbidden love, opposed it strongly, strenghtened the feud, THEN led their children to death. They only found out about their affair after they'd already died, if I followed it right.

Either way, it's a piece of literature that I will always appreciate; the poetic lines of lustful romance will always move me...

'What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet;
So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd,
Retain that dear perfection which he owes
Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name,
And for that name which is no part of thee
Take all myself.' [x]