by Aayush Aggarwal
People from our community know that coming out never stops. We come out to someone and then we meet a new person and then we come out again. It’s a constant process, and the blame is on our society’s deep-rooted heteronormativity, which in turn sprouts from the patriarchy. Patriarchal societies had stopped me from coming out. But, with help from SCAD, I finally did.
I was in the closet for 18 whole years! I don’t know how I survived them. Not a single person knew about me. Yes, it was hard, it was very hard. I went through depression and anxiety because I felt like I didn’t have anyone to talk to. After high school, when SCAD finally accepted me, I was overjoyed, not just because of the academic acceptance but a communal one. I believed it might help me to be in a community of people like me. Where I live, I have supportive parents, but the society is still not that accepting, not like the people and professors I met at SCAD.
The first day of SCAD was something I’ll never forget. I loved it. People were so kind and polite and friendly. One day, I was just in The Hub and saw the LGBTQIA+ club meeting. I gave a thought that I would try and come out. Everyone in SCAD is so kind — if I can’t come out here, I probably never could. Since I didn’t know a lot about the SCAD community, I met with one of the club’s officers and asked if I would get support. They assured me SCAD is a diverse community and I will get support no matter what!
I finally came out in SCAD, and I loved my experience. Every single person loved me and accepted me and were so polite although yes, my roommate was not at all accepting and was low-key homophobic. But I was confident. My friends were so supportive and after I changed room the people got even nicer. I am so glad that I came out, that was the first time I came out in United States. And that motivated me to come out in India because there’s this feeling that once you come out of the closet, there is no turning around.
After getting so much support, I was able to finally talk to my parents. Yes, it was hard, but now I am in a much better place with them. I give credits to SCAD, and I love the diverse and the loving community that it gives me.
A note to all the readers, whether you’re from the community or not: these are difficult times and I know that not everyone has someone to talk to. I would love to be that someone and help you. I would love to support you and help you grow!