2017 National Coming Out Day Book - Final v2

phone number. I left him a message thanking him for what he did. Six months later we started dating.

This is important context because not only was I at the March on Washington, but I was there with a bit of a celebrity. Tracy’s Nightline appearance had helped start a national debate about the rights of gays to serve in the military. As we marched down Constitution Avenue, toward the Capitol, various photographers were taking pictures of us. One approached us and asked for my name. I watched him write it down. He said, “Thank you” and disappeared.

The next day this picture appeared on the front page of my

hometown newspaper:

It occupied the entire section above the fold. The caption named both Tracy and me. This was basically my “catch-all” coming out. Every teacher, neighbor, acquaintance or childhood friend that didn’t know that I was gay, now did. With a single picture, I was “OUT.”

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