I’ve known I was bi since I was about 15-16, but didn’t “actually” date a woman until a decade later. I was always aware being bi was a thing that existed, but at no time did I feel that I could claim the label in a public way. I wasn’t out in college, because no one like me was and this was the early 2000s (though there were those who were known for their slutty ways of hooking up with both men and women at parties!). Gay men and lesbians were out, but it was heavily implied that if you yourself were not one of them, you didn’t get to become part of the queer community on campus. Classic bi erasure in action. When I think about it now, it makes me deeply sad. Today, I follow my college on Instagram. It’s known as an extremely LGBTQIA+ friendly campus now, and it’s a beautiful thing to see, even though I was closeted during my time there.
I would have loved to have lived my teens and twenties in a more open, truthful way. Everyone deserves that. I read a thread on Twitter a few days ago that really spoke to me on this subject, so I am sharing it here.
If you’re not familiar with Twitter, good for you, you’re better off.
If you would like to read the thread, click the link and read, scrolling down until you reach the last Tweet (little paragraph) from this user.
