Congratulations?

When I first came out, and someone told me congratulations, I did not get it at all.  I thought it was stupid to congratulate someone for that, because congratulating someone for being gay is like saying, "Congratulations! blonde hair!"  It is something that is a part of me, and doesn't need congratulations to be validated.

The more I think about it though, I think the congratulations was not for being gay, but for coming out.  Coming out takes a tremendous amount of courage.  Everyone has that courage inside of them.  I thought I would be closeted FOREVER.  Literally, I thought it would devastate my family irreparably and it would be better that I live a lie and be miserable, then to make everyone else miserable too.  Thankfully, it doesn't have to be that way.  People will accept it, and though it is probably the hardest thing you have ever done, you can come out.  Come out when you're ready and on your own terms. If you are gay and reading this, Congratulations!  Because you are taking the first steps weather you realize it or not.  The more you think it through, and pray and come to terms with yourself, the closer you are to being honest with yourself and the world.
Congratulations!