That was a brave thing you did!
Hopefully all will be for the best. After reading an
account by Lacey Leigh about attending a industry conference (where's she well-known in the field) after being outed by a rival, I've got more hope than people may be more accepting than we give them credit for.
According to Lacey "There was no gathering of little cliques to scoff and point. No exclusion, no cold shoulders, no barely concealed contempt." So she took the bull by the horns and wrote on the margin of her conference badge, "If you're curious, ASK." And people did. She ended up talking with a lot of people who were curious and that apparently all took it well (except the rival who hoped to ruin her). So well that "The night of the gala they asked, in all seriousness (and, perhaps, a bit of eager curiosity), "Why didn't you wear a gown for our final evening?" Not out of derision, but from a place of complete acceptance - concerned that
I might no longer be comfortable in a coat and tie for the convention's final event."
Even if your co-workers aren't quite that accepting, it sounds like you're relieved not to be hiding a secret anymore. I guess part of the moral of the tale is that Lacey didn't act like she had something to be ashamed of, so others didn't treat as if were shameful. As you probably told them, this is who you are -- and you deserve to be treated like anyone else.
Originally Posted by ladyfydiana
Way to go love
