Daytime Hate Crime, Coming Out is So Sublime!

One of the story lines currently running on General Hospital is Lucas Jones coming out of the closet. He meets a guy at a bar and leaves with him, only to be beaten and left bleeding in the park. Lucas doesn't report it because he doesn't want people to know he's gay, so Frank the gay basher is free to roam the streets of Port Charles. Before I could roll my eyes at ABC's obligatory gay hate crime storyline, Frank strikes again. This time he targets Guy, an out and proud gay boi who waits tables at the Metro Court Hotel. Guy gets gets fucked up as well, but he doesn't hesitate to report it to the police. Guy then rips into Lucas for not speaking up when Lucas got ruffed up because his statement could have put Frank away and Guy would never have gotten beat up in the first place. He shuns Lucas for not being man enough to accept and embrace his gay mantle and that every minute he spends in the closet is one more minute he denies himself.

It always comes as a surprise to me when gay people don't want others to know that they're gay. I'm not unsympathetic to their plight because I was there once. I was actually beat up when I was in high school when word got around that I was a big nellie gay boy (yes I reported it), so I know how frightening it can be when you're trying to figure out who you are and where you fit in this crazy world. Fortunately, I had friends who supported me and bolstered my faith in the world - and more importantly, myself.

The question remains: Should openly gay people help closeted gay people come out, or should they leave them to find their own way out? Some will argue that a solo journey is vital for the person to find their own identity and that the newbie would only mimic others, losing all hope for individuality. Others think that they should force people out. I believe that it would have taken longer for me to come out if I didn't have help from friends. Also, I would have developed some terrible anti-social behavior if I were in the closet any longer. It's not unlikely that Frank the gay basher is a closeted gay boi himself. Aha!

I don't feel that I should force anyone to come out. I've had more success with showing my closeted friends that it's cool to be out and that it's fun to hold hands with a boy in public. You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar, and my honey is as sweet as ambrosia and nectar. Now if I could only get it to stop attracting the crazies...