I had many sleepless nights as a teenager living in Japan, worrying about what my life would be like as a gay man. Because of my sexuality, I was scared of being disowned by my family, failing to establish a career, and not being able to live as who I am for the rest of my life. It might be a little dramatic, but there were not many role models out there to show me a different reality back then.
One month before moving to Canada to study abroad, I sat down with my mother to have that talk. I was 22, slightly older and wiser. I tried my best to explain to her that I was gay and I was going to be great. Despite me shedding so many tears during this heated family meeting, I somehow managed to convince her that I was determined to live my life to the fullest as a gay man and come back from Canada as a fabulous queen. She supported my vision.
Unfortunately, I could not keep the promise. I ended up staying here in Toronto (15 years and counting.) While being a fabulous queen is still debatable, I am confident that I lived my life to the fullest, and I continue to do so. Having said that, I am still part of a world that excludes, disadvantages, and harms marginalized community groups. My coming out is part of a larger social movement, in solidarity with ongoing fights to make the world a better and more inclusive place.