thought it would be fun to post a few stories here

When you email me your story let me know if it is OK for me to post your story on here as well. I was thinking it would be fun to let people read a few stories that will be put in the book. I intend on all of the stories get in the book if at all possible, I think everyone deserves to have their story heard. I also am not planning on altering any story except if there is a typo or if punctuation needs to be altered. I want all the stories to still be in everyone's individual voice.

Please send in your story, if not for the book for this site. The more stories are heard the more acceptance will occur.

Happy New year to you all and be safe and be you!

Thank you for your support

I really appreciate your support. I have had quite a few people say the idea of this book was great. It makes me feel great that other people support the project. As much as I love the support I have not received many stories. I am not trying to rush people and I understand if you don't want to write your story and have it published in a book for others to read. This is a very personal thing I am asking you to share. But, I am not writing a story about MY coming out.

My experience is only one experience and not everyone is going to go through things just like me. That is why I need your story. The more stories that are included the more people will understand there is not just one type of person who is gay, there is not one way of coming out, and there is not just one reaction to being gay. Some people realize they are gay and embrace it with open arms, some people realize they are gay and hide it. The more of us who share our stories with others the more other people will understand there is nothing to be scared of. We all deserve the right to a happy life no matter where you live and no matter where you are from. Please if you have a story you would like to have in this book email your story to me at ahinz10@gmail.com. All I ask to be included in your story is when did you realize you are gay? When did you realize you needed to come out? How did you come out? How have things changed since?

Thank you all for your support. I wish you all the very best this New Year.

I know there has been some confusion

Recently I have heard some confusion with this project. Some people have asked me about videos. I am not a film person and I am not making videos of coming out. There is a wonderful site http://iwanttheworldtoknow.org/ that is putting videos together. I adore this project and encourage you all to look at it and make a video of your own. It sounds like both projects have the same objective just a different methods. I would have no problem if you chose to do a video rather than send me your story for this book. Don't get me wrong I REALLY want your story to be in this book, but I also believe that the important thing is to get the stories out there. The whole point of my project is not to make me famous or make money, it is to create acceptance and understanding for us all. If this comes from putting videos of people together that is great and I am happy with that, and if this comes from people reading the book i am creating then that is awesome also.I just wanted to let you all know that the two projects are not connected but I encourage you to contribute to both if at all possible.

I hope you all are safe and have fun enjoying your New Years festivities!!

Amber

other perspectives

Please let me know what you think.

I was recently asked if I would be interested in including the views of people such as clergy, teachers, school principals, etc. I originally was just looking for the views of queer people and our families and friends. But then I thought these people can have alot of influence on us. Most of us have gone to church and all of us have gone to school and these people's opinions of us can fuel that fear people have about coming out.

Since coming out myself I have found the opinion of these people surprised me. My mother works at a convent and told some of the nuns that I am gay. The nuns (who have known me for years) told my mom she had to make sure she was understanding about it and made sure she was being compassionate about it. Now I was always told that the catholic church disapproved of homosexuality, so this surprised me. Now if I would have known how understanding and open these people would have been I could have come out years ago.These ladies were not the only people who have surprised me by their reaction.

I stayed in the closet for a good 10-15 years because I was scared of how I was going to be treated by those closest to me. Since coming out most of these people have been very supportive. I kind of wish I would have known that it was possible for these people to still accept me after I told them I was gay.

SO what do you think about including stories from influential people such as clergy, teachers, principals, coworkers, bosses, etc? Do you think it would be a good addition? Please let me know by leaving a comment below.

I hope you all have a wonderful time enjoying your holiday season with your families and friends.

having fun reading and compiling your stories

I wanted to say thank you to the people who have already sent in their stories. Everyone has such great stories. Everyone's stories are diffrent and unique. If you have thought about submitting a story and have not becasue it is so private please don't be discoraged. I will not use your name unless you give me the ok. This book is being created to help other people understand the experience of coming out. It is NOT being created for my amusement at all. It is also not being created for me to get any personal gain. I am presently looking into donating any money this book may make. This is entirely being created because I have thought our community could use such a book and have not found one. Please also talk to your family and friends and ask if they would like to contribute their experience of having you come out to them. I think that hearing the other perspective could be helpful to the possible readers of this book.

If you have any ideas of how I can make this book even better please leave a comment. I would be thrilled to hear your impute, even if you think this whole book idea stinks I woudl like to hear from you. Any impute will help me know what people want.

I hope you all are enjoying your holidays,
Amber

Would your family like to share their point of view?

I would also like to include stories from people who have had someone come out to them. I think it would be great to hear the otherside. It could help people understand why some people react the way they do. And possibly lessen the fear of coming out. The people who love you really just want you to be happy. Sometimes when we don't understand something we are afraid of it. The more we are visible and the more we are heard the less fear there will be.

Amber

writing a book for you and about you

About 15 years ago I started to come out of the closet as a lesbian. It was quite scary. I had thoughts such as "How is the world going to see me?" and"What will my parents say?" and lots of other questions. It can be scary sometimes to come out depending on your personal situation at the time. I came from a family that was Catholic and even though my parents never actually told me that being gay was bad, but I still was afraid to be open about myself. I told only one person right away it then took me many years to fully come out to everyone else.

I know it can be scary. I had wished I had someone who could explain to me how they were able to come out. I thought if I understood how it was for other people I could maybe find a way to come out myself. I was fortunate enough to meet a great group of lesbians that helped me do just that. I know other people may not be that lucky and might feel very alone.

So I decided to write a book about my coming out story and the stories of others in the LGTB community. I have decided to title it "Welcome Out". I am hoping that this book can be read by other people struggling with the decision of wether or not to come out. I have received some wondeful stories from some awesome people. I still need more to make this book a reality. I know my story and the stories of my friends. But these stories are all diffrent. People are diffrent and so are their circumstances.

I am looking for any coming out stories. Some stories are happy and some are sad. But these stories are about our lives. I dont need much just a story about when you knew you were gay, when you knew you needed to tell your parents or family, how you did it, and how things have been since. The story does not have to be long. Some people's stories are more complex than others. The more stories I have in the book the greater the possibility someone will read it and say "Wait this is how I feel"

I hope you have a story you are willing to share. I will only include a name if you tell me to do so. I understand that this is a very personal thing to share. But remember before you were out? Remember how isolated you felt? How different you felt? Through this book other people can see that they are not alone, there are alot of us in the world.

Please if you have a story that you would like to submit please email it to me. My address is ahinz10@gmail.com. I can't wait to read you story. And thank you in advance for helping me make this book. I can only do this with your help. Our community needs this.

Take Care,

Amber