When Han Worsley came out to their family and close friends, they realised that some of them needed time to process it. And that鈥檚 fine, says the Rainbow UC Vice-President and Bachelor of Primary Education (STeM) student, because they did so with respect and empathy.
Growing up in the 70s and 80s, UC鈥檚 Assistant Professor Peter Graham came out in a very different time. And his first 鈥� and most important 鈥� coming out 鈥� was to himself.
UC鈥檚 Senior Coordinator for Social Engagement Lydia Stevens dreams of a day when she no longer has to explain her sexual orientation 鈥� just as her twin sister has never had to.
When UC's Acting Library Services Manager Christian West came out at 16, he couldn鈥檛 say the words 鈥� and made his best friend guess instead. Today, he is happy to share who he is, and to engage with respectful, open questions.
It can be met with misunderstanding and outright dismissal 鈥� that鈥檚 one reason UC ELSA Digital Coordinator Ross Hope鈥檚 coming out as a bisexual will always be an ongoing process. If it helps even one person feel less alone, it鈥檚 worth it, he says.