The evolution of “coming out”
Gay men have been “coming out” as early as the 1930s. Today, the term has been used by those coming out as undocumented, fat, and even polygamist.
Coming out about coming out
Historical context
Originally used when elite young women would come out into high society, the gay community originally borrowed the term in the 1930s to describe coming out into gay culture. There was literally coming out to balls where gay men would dress in drag and enter gay culture, but as the 1940s arrived, it became more of a spoken coming out. The term did not become radicalized until the late 1960s. Coming out was then extended to expressing social change rather than just inclusion.
Closeted Thinking
“We often think of coming out as disclosing something about yourself that other people don't know, like coming out as gay, in a context that people didn't know that you were gay. But sometimes it means talking openly about something that people know… Coming out is telling a friend, a loved one, a classmate, a teacher something that otherwise you would have kept private. It is using our lives and stories as a political tool for change. Sometimes people talk about other groups co-opting or appropriating. But what I found is that it's actually the same people, right. It's people who are members of both groups that see the parallel and feel like it’s something similar,” author of Come Out, Come Out, Whoever You Are Abigail Saguy explains to Brut.
Who else uses the term?
In the past, there have been movements for the plus-sized community, #MeToo, polygamists, and undocumented immigrants that have utilized the phrase “coming out” to bring awareness and to put faces to their causes. Especially in the cases of #MeToo and undocumented immigrants, social media has played a huge role in how individuals come out. While there are debates about the term being used outside of the LGBTQ+ community, what they can all agree on is that going through this process takes back the control often taken from these minorities.
Brut.
19 comments
Murat T.
12/13/2020 16:48God day
Murat T.
12/13/2020 16:39Very Very beautiful
Murat T.
12/13/2020 16:39Calle me yesss
Murat T.
12/13/2020 16:39Good
Marivic J.
12/11/2020 21:26All in ilegal be niglect the devil way of work . And be sure the soul to be GOD the almighty in heaven in the name of the Son through JESUS CHRIST the messiah our LORD. And hope every indevidual people in all nation in all over of the whole world want be sure can recieve grace gift power to become the Sons of GOD the almighty in heaven .
Mazi U.
12/05/2020 13:56Like I am waiting for people to tell me to say am straight. Wdf is wrong with all these gays? If u guys it's ur choice stop disturbing us plz. Coming out coming out and I want to ask if the person will win a contract or win a house ? If u gay keep t to ur self. People re passing through a lot now
Daniel S.
12/04/2020 14:29Le bien appelé mal, le mal appelé bien.
Al A.
12/04/2020 01:42With all the crap going on you expect people to deal with this crap
Ron J.
12/04/2020 00:56Sick. . . Go back in
David A.
12/03/2020 22:45LOL WUT?!?!
Давчев П.
12/03/2020 20:12Propaganda brainwashing unfollow
West J.
05/06/2020 14:59Forcing people to like something they don't and climbing they are a victim makes things worse groupie staff causes more damage than anything people need to be neutral and respect other people
Donnie R.
03/10/2020 17:31How do you come out as fat? Walk outside?
Ginger D.
03/07/2020 08:12And the people behind this video are choosing to obsess about this topic for what reason?
Rick A.
03/07/2020 04:49molie , molie molie
Nevin S.
03/03/2020 10:26the only mental health disorder which is celebrated
Wesley Z.
03/02/2020 12:46ICK 💯👊👊☃️👻✨🇦🇫☹️🤔
Phoenix L.
03/01/2020 17:01Its just another form of depopulation!!
Elmer D.
03/01/2020 16:00Not a good idea to lump all disenfranchised as one ,