In this week’s episode, we talk about how we got here and how difficult it can be for a person to accept their truth in the face of anti-LGBTQ+ prejudice. In that context, we share memories of Elton John’s journey from seemingly straight rock star to out-and-proud gay icon, a journey that resonates with us on a number of levels.
It may seem odd in 2021 that a person could deny their own identity for decades, but to appreciate and understand it, you have to turn back the clock to a time when homophobia was as much a part of the environment as the air we breathed. It was a universally accepted fact of life. And so, too, were stereotypes about gay people, even though many of us simply did not fit in to those preconceived ideas about what it meant to be gay. In that dysfunctional environment, not everyone had the ability to perceive their own true selves, let alone the courage to accept it. We all move at our own pace and come to accept ourselves in our own time. And that’s okay.
The message: Everyone’s origin story is different, and everyone’s origin story is valid. Please give this episode a listen and share your thoughts in the comments.
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