Today is National Coming Out Day.

Without a doubt, the very best coming out story I’ve ever heard saw the father of the “comer-outer”(?) react with probably the most hilariously droll and lovingly delivered deadpan line one could possibly whip out in that situation (and a joke held in reserve, no doubt, for some time in the teller’s back pocket):

“Well, they say that 10% of the population is gay and 15% are left-handed. At least my son won’t have trouble with scissors.”

I laughed until I cried when I heard that story over 20 years ago. I still do. If I end up having a gay kid, I will steal that line, Dr. Ferguson, you had better believe I will.

But, the best, most human and by far the sweetest thing I’ve seen all week (other than the Dachshund raising the baby ducks) is the “It Gets Better” video that was made by the mother of Bravo’s Andy Cohen. In it, Evelyn Cohen talks about what it was like for her when her son told her that he was gay, how she reacted and what she did afterwards. It’s really pretty amazing stuff, I promise you.

“I told this friend…‘What am I gonna do? Andy is gay,’ and she said, ‘What do you mean what are you going to do? He was gay yesterday and he’s the same person today. You just know a little more about him.’”

 
Via Jezebel

 
It’s National Coming Out Day and to celebrate, here is John Waters - a man who knew he was gay as a child, from the moment he saw Elvis Presley on television - explaining in his inimitable style, what he thinks about coming out, and why people have rarely asked him about his sexuality, because “They were afraid to hear the answer.”
 

 
Today is National Coming Out Day, so here is an appropriate music video to help get the party started right, Diana Ross performing. what else, “I’m Coming Out” at the Inglewood Auditorium in 1981. Congratulations to everyone who had the courage to come out to their friends and family today, it probably wasn’t easy, but it’s going to get better.
 

 
Via Shakesville