Avik Cordeiro
Posted by ulla on Monday, February 23, 2009
Under: Gay
Name or Nick Name : Avik Cordeiro
Country or City you are from: : Los Angeles
Your Age : 19
Your Gender : Male
What did you come out as? : Gay
What other words would you use to describe yourself? : Fabulous
How old were you when you first realised your identity? : 12
How old were you when you first told someone? : 17
Did you plan it? If so, how? : I planned to tell my best friend for about a year, over Instant Messaging.
What made you choose that person to tell? : I believed that he knew I should live my life open and happy, rather than living a lie. I knew he would stand by my side no matter what.
Can you remember exactly what you said? : Nope
How did you feel? : Completely Relieved. I told him my entire life story, and he still knows me better than anyone else.
What was the person’s reaction? : Unfazed and supportive. It was midnight, but he still knew I needed him.
What did they say? : How much he supported me and that there wasn’t anyone who I knew that wouldn’t support me.
What was your relationship with the person like afterwards? : He’s my best friend.
What’s it like now? : I’ll never forget how much he helped me come out to the rest of my life.
Since coming out how out are you at school? : all_out
Since coming out, how “out” are you at work? : only_friends
Since coming out, how “out” are you with family? : partly_out
Since coming out, how “out” are you with your friends? : all_out
What does being out mean to you? : Allowing people around you know your sexual preference and social positions.
What differences, if any, did your cultural background make to your experience of coming out? : I was born in India, but moved here when I was four. My parents being very tradition Catholics were extremely resistant to the idea that I could be out of the closet at all. I had to lie to them and say that I was trying to be straight.
What does the concept of the closet mean to you? : An internal resistance to admitting what is true.
What advice would you give someone wanting to come out? : The day you are safe to do so, DO IT! You will not feel truly fulfilled hiding who you are.
If you could do it all again, would you do it any differently? If so, how? : I’d come out earlier!!
Country or City you are from: : Los Angeles
Your Age : 19
Your Gender : Male
What did you come out as? : Gay
What other words would you use to describe yourself? : Fabulous
How old were you when you first realised your identity? : 12
How old were you when you first told someone? : 17
Did you plan it? If so, how? : I planned to tell my best friend for about a year, over Instant Messaging.
What made you choose that person to tell? : I believed that he knew I should live my life open and happy, rather than living a lie. I knew he would stand by my side no matter what.
Can you remember exactly what you said? : Nope
How did you feel? : Completely Relieved. I told him my entire life story, and he still knows me better than anyone else.
What was the person’s reaction? : Unfazed and supportive. It was midnight, but he still knew I needed him.
What did they say? : How much he supported me and that there wasn’t anyone who I knew that wouldn’t support me.
What was your relationship with the person like afterwards? : He’s my best friend.
What’s it like now? : I’ll never forget how much he helped me come out to the rest of my life.
Since coming out how out are you at school? : all_out
Since coming out, how “out” are you at work? : only_friends
Since coming out, how “out” are you with family? : partly_out
Since coming out, how “out” are you with your friends? : all_out
What does being out mean to you? : Allowing people around you know your sexual preference and social positions.
What differences, if any, did your cultural background make to your experience of coming out? : I was born in India, but moved here when I was four. My parents being very tradition Catholics were extremely resistant to the idea that I could be out of the closet at all. I had to lie to them and say that I was trying to be straight.
What does the concept of the closet mean to you? : An internal resistance to admitting what is true.
What advice would you give someone wanting to come out? : The day you are safe to do so, DO IT! You will not feel truly fulfilled hiding who you are.
If you could do it all again, would you do it any differently? If so, how? : I’d come out earlier!!
In : Gay
