People can’t choose to be part of the LGBT+ community but they can choose to come out of the closet. They have control over it. It isn’t the easiest thing to do, but they have to be ready.

“I think the hardest part of coming out is not knowing exactly how that person is going to react,” freshman Peej Bullard said. “You don’t know if they’ll be okay with it, or excited, or disgusted, or shocked.”

Different people react different ways. Some are totally okay with it while others think the worst. However, it is important to accept oneself.

“In my family, it is considered a sham or it’s just a phase,” junior Anissa Charles said. “I feel trapped – like I’m holding myself back from finding my significant other.”

There are many ways one can come out but there are things to keep in mind.

“Surround yourself with true friends who will be 100 percent supportive of you no matter what,” sophomore Veronica Smith said. “If they won’t stick around and accept you for who you are, then they are not worth it.”

Reasons to come out are numerous, but mostly it is the satisfaction of actually being out and not hiding who one really is.

“It feels like I can be myself, and I don’t have to hide anything from anyone,” Bullard said. “I surround myself with people who are very understanding and very accepting.”

Coming out can be difficult but also rewarding.

“If you want to come out, do it at a time that feels right. Don’t try to rush it,” Bullard said. “No matter how certain people react, there will always be some friends who will stick with you. Be yourself, and don’t hold back; it feels so much better than hiding.”