COMING OUT STORY - DIOGO
Strangely enough, this is the first time I think deeply about this topic of "coming out”, because my whole process was very natural for me and progressive at the right times. I never doubted myself or how I felt, but I did hide part of myself out of fear.
I grew up at a time when there was little or no representation of the LGBTQIA+ community, in a world filled with expectations and societal norms, which can often leave us with doubts. Fortunately, I never doubted my feelings and never saw myself as a "freak", I was able to realise early on that love is non-binary, a spectrum that changes from person to person. Of course, at the time I couldn't express this as clearly as I can today, but I pride myself on having the ability to think for myself and never letting society's opinion outweigh my own.
When I look back I can safely say that my childhood phase was composed of many moments of pure happiness and innocence. From a young age, I found joy and comfort in playing with Barbie dolls, immersing myself in a world of imagination and creativity. Luckily for me, I grew up surrounded by female cousins and so my love for the more "feminine" toys went a little unnoticed by people outside my family circle. But yes, I was that kid who liked Barbies, everything pink and always picking the female player of every video game... very cliché I know ahah. I think it was at this point that unconsciously my family started to realise that my interests were different from what is normally expected of a boy.
Oddly enough, I never specifically told my parents that I liked boys, they simply understood. I dated Gerson "secretly" until it didn't make sense not to share with my parents how happy I was to be with him. It was never a planned or thought-out conversation, it just happened that they realised my “dear friend” Gerson, who spent hours on end by my side and was always there, was not just a friend... he was the love of my life and made me the happiest person.
Throughout this journey, I've discovered that coming out is not just a singular moment but a continuous act of bravery. It's an act of self-love, of honouring the beautiful soul that I am, and celebrating the authentic love that fills my heart. It's about sharing my truth fearlessly, even in the face of adversity, because I deserve to live a life unburdened by secrets and falsehoods.
You can follow Diogo & Gerson’s journey on Instagram @diogoandgerson