National Coming Out Day

National Coming Out Day: October 11

Closets are for clothes only! Come on out as the proud same gender loving and bare man that you truly are! 

Today is National Coming Out Day! Originally conceived as the date to encourage and promote all same gender loving and dual gender loving persons to "come out of the closet" to family and friends. Now that most of us are no longer hiding our sexual orientation, we continue to observe this as a time to support one another with pride and love. I like to encourage all of us to also openly acknowledge our preference to live our lives as bare as possible. There is no shame in celebrating our clothes-freedom!

 

The term, "closet," traditionally referred to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people who, for whatever reason, felt they had to live in secret, primarily for survival. The historical label applied to those who preferred to live bare (close-free, nude) was to live "with a fig leaf" (in reference to the biblical "Adam" hiding behind a fig leaf as he was expelled from the Garden of Eden). Personally, even a fig leaf is transparent and it truly doesn't conceal anything.

Make today the day that we all stop hiding and start living! 

  

There is nothing wrong with our being not only proud gay men but also proud, nude gay men! Our nudity and loving who we want isn't hurting anyone else. It is how we are comfortable in our daily lives. There is no need for us to feel any disgrace or shame about who we really are. Hiding our reality from others in a closet does not lead to happiness and productivity. 

It is important for us all to remember that in being honest about who we are, we are serving as a positive example to all youth who are questioning their own sexuality and lifestyle choices. There is no reason for us to act irresponsibly and not offer the next generation the best role-model that we can possibly be. We owe this much to the future of our larger GLBT community. Whatever struggles we faced in our own lives don't have to necessarily be overcome by our future community members. 

We all know that the world can be a harsh place for all people, no matter what their sexual orientation or life choices may be. In our capacity as responsible adults, it is incumbent upon each one of us to live our lives as decently and as honestly as we are able to ensure the continued progress and happiness of our successive generations. 

If you're hiding in the closet or behind a fig leaf about your own sexual orientation or preference for nudity, kick down that closet door, drop that useless fig leaf and openly embrace who you truly are. You don't need to parade naked down a major traffic thoroughfare waving a rainbow flag. Simply let one or two others know who you indeed are and savor the freedom and joy of at last taking the first step towards living honestly. I guarantee that you'll feel much better about yourself and your life!

Peace! Get naked. Enjoy!

Bare With Pride