Скачать или смотреть VideoOut: Cliff Simon, It All Started When I Came Out

Cliff Simon (he/him/his) was the very first person we recorded for VideoOut. Actually, Cliff recorded it and sent it to Jordan Reeves via Facebook messenger.

Cliff said, "Growing up I was so deep in the closet, hiding from the world and definitely from myself. When I realized I was gay, I equated it with a death sentence. I was very dramatic. I got a job when I was around 21 working with a very out gay man, about 10 years older than me. He was so smart and very funny and there was such an ease about him being out in the world that it completely altered my very distorted view of what it was all about. He spoke about everything, but a lot about loving another person, another man. That had never even entered my consciousness until then. I just thought it was about abnormal sex. That man would never admit he had this huge affect on me, but if I hadn't met him to hear those things he talked about in idle conversation, I don't know if I'd be here today. So telling my story whenever I can, I see as vital. If it strikes a chord with just one person, that is what it's all about. Now, it's a wonderful world."

The irony here is that Cliff is to Jordan what the man in Cliff's story is to Cliff. One day, Cliff shared his story to a group of students and Jordan heard, for the very first time, what it would be like to be happy and open and living truthfully. The rest is history!

Listen to Cliff's story and then add your own at VideoOut.org.

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VideoOut: http://www.videoout.org/