Thread by @CoreyinNYC

THREAD: 20 years ago this week I came out in my high school in a small town in Massachusetts.

I was 16 years old and for years I was scared, depressed, despondent and at certain moments suicidal.

I was afraid of being rejected and ostracized by my friends and teammates.

I had just been elected co-captain of my football team and sports were my salvation and passion during high school.

Matthew Shepard was tragically murdered 6 months earlier and the country was mourning this vicious and hateful act.

When I came out to my teammates I didn’t know what would happen. I was the only openly gay student out of 1200 kids.

But I was fortunate & lucky that I had an unconditionally loving family, 99percent of the kids in school didn’t really care & I had teachers who looked out for me

20 years later I’m the openly gay Speaker of the NYC Council in the largest and greatest city in America. @PeteButtigieg is running for President as a credible, top tier candidate & Chicago just elected @LightfootForChi , an African-American lesbian was just elected Mayor.

So much has changed in 20 years but discrimination and hate still exist and young people still struggle with whether or not they will suffer from family or parental rejection.

If I could tell the 15 year old, closeted gay teen that I was 21 years ago something, it would be:

YOU are good just the way you are.

Dream big. Work hard. Unapologetically be yourself and do your best to change the world for others who have struggled and been marginalized.

So to all the young people out there - as Gaga says: Baby you were born this way!

Coming out is empowering and brave. And sometimes we have to do it every day.

Keep dreaming and change the world.

Love,
Corey