We’re Coming Out

In honor of National Coming Out day tomorrow, Nutella and I are going to take a little “coming out/being out” survey I found…

Strawberry:
Are you open with your sexuality? I usually tell people once we’ve gotten to know each other a little better. I don’t normally share much of my life with strangers and I definitely don’t tell everyone I meet, but I don’t take pains to hide it either. I mean, I have a wedding picture of my wife and I out on my desk at work, and a rainbow flag on my car.
Who was the 1st person you told that you’re a lesbian?I first told my sister that I might be bisexual when I was 15 (not wanting to give up hope on ending up with a man). She told me it was just a phase. The first friend I told that I was gay was one of my best friends in high school. I hinted at it to her over a 4-hour long phone conversation late at night until she finally guessed. She thought it was the coolest thing. lol
Overall, how difficult was it to come out? My fears were much worse than the reality, so I had a pretty hard time of it. There were a couple years in high school where it really consumed me. But once all was said and done, it turned out not to be so bad.
Do you own anything with the Gay Rainbow on it? I have the sticker on my car, and we have a little rainbow flag somewhere in the house.
Do you consider yourself Butch, Androgynous, or Femme?I look femme but feel more andro. Still, I’m pretty girly overall.
What type of females are you most attracted to?I’m attracted to other feminine women, although I have been attracted to the occasional hot butch in the past. lol.
What famous lesbian is your favorite? This is cliche, but Ellen, because I was coming out at the same time she was on her show and that helped me an awful lot.
What is your favorite lesbian movie? Girl Play.
Do you have any Pride tattoos? Actually, both Nutella and I have the same rainbow star tattoo, but in different places (mine’s on my left shoulder).
How do you feel about Gays/Lesbians having children? Uh, very good? lol. I think it’s a bigger and more thoughtful decision for us since we can’t have “accidents” and I think studies have shown our children to be more well-adjusted and open-minded overall.
If it were legal, would you marry another woman? We didn’t care about the legality of it and are already married. But when it becomes legal in our state, we’ll sign the papers.
Have you ever attended a Gay Pride Festival? Lots!
Do you have more Gay/Lesbian/Bi friends than you do Straight friends? Actually, right now I think I do. The scales tipped a couple years ago.
Have you ever personally dealt with homophobia? I deal with the effects of it everyday, but other than random assholes spewing hate at some events I’ve been to, I haven’t personally dealt with it in my face much.
Did anyone stop having contact with you after you came out of the closet? Luckily, no.
Do you believe you were born a lesbian? Absolutely.
Are you proud? Very!

Nutella:
Are you open with your sexuality? Very.  Whenever I start what I anticipate to be a long term relationship, be it personal or professional, I always try to slip in a reference to it fairly early on in the game.  I am a firm believer in the “personal is political, and the political is personal” way of life.  Once that door is open, I am very very up-front about both my personal life and about gay specific issues in general, if asked.
Who was the 1st person you told that you’re a lesbian?  Some random other actress in a play that I was in when I was 17.  She was trying to set me up on a date with her brother.
Overall, how difficult was it to come out?  Not nearly as difficult for me as for many others. The hardest was my best friend in High School. I was wary about how she’d react, since she was pretty mean to the only other out lesbian in our school.  With my parents, I never anticipated any negative reaction, so it was more an issue of timing.  It’s not exactly an easy conversation to start.
Do you own anything with the Gay Rainbow on it?  Sticker on my car, earrings, hair clips, ribbons, feather fan.  I like rainbows.
Do you consider yourself Butch, Androgynous, or Femme?  Femme.  I’m pretty girly and into dresses, lingerie, shoes, sparkly jewlery, and occasionally make-up and hair.  But I am also totally confortable hiking in the woods, building stuff, and changing a tire.
What type of females are you most attracted to?  Redheads.  Seriously,  I don’t have a physical “type.”
What famous lesbian is your favorite?  Is it bad that I can’t really think of anyone?  There’s a very well known professional actress locally that I am totally in awe of.  I’m such a fan girl for her.
What is your favorite lesbian movie? They all suck.  Ok, not ALL of them, but I don’t really LOVE any of the ones that I’ve seen.  If I had to pick I think I’d say Nina’s Heavenly Delights.
Do you have any Pride tattoos? Strawberry and I have matching rainbow disco stars.  Mine is on my outer right calf.
How do you feel about Gays/Lesbians having children?  Really great.
If it were legal, would you marry another woman? No, I’d still marry Strawberry.  Oh wait, you mean would I marry a woman?  Then I guess the answer is yes.  I’d make us legal.
Have you ever attended a Gay Pride Festival? Too many to count.
Do you have more Gay/Lesbian/Bi friends than you do Straight friends? Yes, though most of them are also neighbors.  I love where we live.
Have you ever personally dealt with homophobia? I went to college to study musical theatre.  95% of the male students and faculty were gay.  I was one of 3 lesbians, faculty and students, in the entire school.  I did NOT play the politics of the school the way that the powers in charge wanted them played.  I asked questions and I fought hard for myself.  I was asked not to return after my sophomore year.  I do not know if my sexuality had anything to do with their decision to want to get rid of me, but the whole experience has always felt as though it had many things wrong with it and that would not surprise me.
Did anyone stop having contact with you after you came out of the closet? No.
Do you believe you were born a lesbian? I believe that I was born with the genetic material that would cause me to be homosexual upon sexual maturity.
Are you proud?  You bet!