Steve Grand’s Coming Out Day thoughts: “Please be good to each other. So many are still struggling”

Singer Steve Grand of All-American Boy fame posted this nicely-written piece yesterday on Coming Out Day.

Happy Coming Out Day! I am proud to be a gay man. But it has not always been that way for me. Accepting my true self was a slow, painful process, but I am so grateful that today, I am so fortunate to have so many loving, supportive people in my life who have embraced me to be exactly who I was meant to be.

I wish that for every LGBTQ person… No matter how young or old. We are all on our own journey. And it’s a sacred journey. Just make sure you are following YOUR heart. And that is sometimes the hardest part of it all… Having the clarity of mind and soul to know where your heart is leading you.

The road to accepting myself has been among some of my greatest challenges I’ve faced in life thus far. At some points, I really felt like I just wanted to lay down and die. But I kept pushing… And did everything I could to silence all the noise and the outside voices of my world.

So to everyone of you who are still suffering or confused… My heart breaks for you… I know how incredible painful and confusing this all can be. Please give yourself GRACE and love in this process… There is no rush. And don’t let anyone make you feel like you are a fraud because you are not yet out… Come out on your OWN terms. That is the only way. No one should be forced out of the closet… It is the duty of those out of the closet to show our closeted brothers and sisters love and patience and grace. Our journeys are all very different… But almost none of us will say that they have been easy.

Please be good to each other. So many are still struggling. My thoughts are with all of you who are on that journey right now… Sending all my love and strength your way. And please remember to give yourself some grace… I wish someone would have told that to me 10 years ago.

Please know… At least for me and everyone I’ve ever talked to… Coming out has been a liberating experience. And you all deserve to be free.