Hello All.....Six years ago on Christmas evening 2014, I came out here on Empty Closets. I was in crisis and made my first ever post begging for help. I got that help within just a few minutes and my life has been different ever since. At that time I thought that I was trapped, unable to come out, and unable to go any further with the charade that I had been living for decades. Over the next year, my only LGBTQ+ Contact was EC and I gradually learned to accept and then to even start to like who I was. In December of 2015, I meet with my therapist for the first time and came out to him through waterfalls of tears and sobs. Between Empty Closets and that same therapist, I have come so far...I can even say that I love who I am now...not that I've got everything under control as I surely do not! Back then I thought that I would never, ever come out to anyone, now I am out to most of my family and over twenty close friends! It's amazing and at times I can hardly believe how I have changed. To all of the EC'ers out there who helped me through those early years and who continue to share with me...Thank You so much, you have helped me become the guy who has been able to embrace his true self. To all of you that I have met in the last few years...Thank You for sharing with me and allowing me to share with you! To the Empty Closets staff...a huge Thank You as I have been learning just how much time and effort you all contribute to making EC work. May 2021 allow us to continue helping those in our LGBTQ+ Family as we face the challenges that every year brings our way. .....David ☃️
Thank *you* for sharing your story... and for volunteering for the staff team to help others just finding this amazing community.
@greatwhale.....Thank you so much! You were one of the first who held out a hand to me on that night six years ago. Without your help and the others that followed I wouldn't be here now. Anything that I do that helps others is a part of your legacy. We all affect more than we realize...our actions are often more far-reaching than we know. My gratitude goes out to everyone who has made Empty Closets possible, to all of those who keep it running, and to every one of our LGBTQ+ Family that takes their time to help and be helped here on EC. .....David
It is wonderful to read a success story like this on EC. We need more like this one to prove positive there is life after gay! Congrats on your gaybirth day.
Six years! That's a milestone to celebrate! Like many others here on EC, I benefited from your quick response when I reached out in search of someone, anyone who would understand what I was feeling. Thank you for putting your experience to good use.
Sevn.....I try to pay back the kindness and support that I received when I first posted a message here on Empty Closets. I'm so glad that anything I've said has helped you or anyone else! .....David