Being gay has been an extraordinary experience. At first, it was a dilemma that scared the hell out of me. I thought I wasn't normal, and I felt incredibly isolated because I had to hide who I was and the feelings I had. When I turned 18, I met other people in the gay community and realized that being gay wasn't the dire circumstance I had imagined. It opened the door to a much fuller and happier life.

I've lived my entire life in suburbia, so I've spent most of my life surrounded by the majority heterosexual community. At the same time, I've been an active part of the gay community throughout my life. I'm not sure what my legacy will be, but I've had an extraordinary life despite being part of a marginalized group. One thing I've observed is that, as a white person, I was part of a privileged majority in one respect, and because being gay isn't always visible, I could often hide that part of myself. Living within that majority also showed me how easily those with privilege can feel entitled to repress other marginalized groups, including women.

I've had many beautiful relationships throughout my life, and I feel incredibly fortunate. Even though I never found one lifelong partner, that's okay. My life has been full of love, friendship, and meaningful connections. We are living through difficult times for the gay community, as well as for many other communities. Women have lost reproductive freedoms they had for 50 years. Even so, one thing I have learned is that the gay community is remarkably strong, resilient, and a vital part of our world. We have faced adversity before, and we will continue to endure, grow, and help build a more compassionate future.

My hope is that everyone can be proud of who they are, despite the efforts of others to diminish or attack them. Our differences are not weaknesses—they are part of what makes our communities stronger.