I never thought that I would ever share a coming out story with anyone, but here goes. I kind of think that as a lesbian I have done everything backward. I am 26 years old, and up until seven months ago I was a resident of the great state of Oklahoma.

I knew I was different from the other girls that I was friends with but I didn’t quite know why. It wasn’t until I was 16 and met a family friend that told me she was a lesbian. To say the least I was shocked, a lesbian, in Norman, OK….who knew? Well we became fast friends, and hung out often, until one night I invited her over, and we had a long talk. I found her very attractive, and found myself wanting to kiss her. I didn’t have to act on that urge because she did it for me. I came to terms with the kiss and all that it meant, I found friends that loved me for me. I lived in a small town outside of Norman, and to say the least even in the 90’s it wasn’t ok to be gay in high school. I got a lot of torment, and eventually even lost my ability to walk with my class at my graduation because my principal decided that I was on drugs or something and, that is the only way he could explain a lesbian student, and I wasn’t even open about it at school. After high school I decided that I wanted babies and the white picket fence life, so I got married and settled down. Ultimately he and I divorced because he stated that we were too different. I then found myself back in the gay community, because that is where I felt comfortable but I still couldn’t be out at work or at home. I then met the woman of my dreams, as a friend from Pennsylvania. She made me realize that it was ok to be me, and ultimately I fell in love with her. I moved to PA in July of last year to be with her, I still haven’t brought myself to tell my parents, but I know that has to happen because I actually plan to marry her in Canada later this year. We want kids and all that white picket fence stuff that I thought could never happen. She has given me the courage to tell my brother that I am in a committed relationship with a woman, making him realize that it couldn’t be just a passing thing for me. I am slowly coming out here, and it is the most empowering thing that I have ever experienced. Hopefully I will get the courage to tell my very southern parents that I am gay before we decide to have their first and probably only grandchildren. We have plenty of time before all that I guess.