Louise Carole Sumrell (she/her) Sorry, I didn’t express myself very well — your comment didn’t come off as one-upmanship, at all. I just think about that sometimes. For instance, I am haunted by the memories of some friends I had in high school who knew they were gay but couldn’t safely express that because of the culture of the town in which we lived at that time. I hate that any of us has had to struggle with repression or shame or lack of acceptance or bigotry or hatred or…any of it. I’m still not sure I’m expressing this well.

I just want to say I appreciate your story and your self-possession and your compassion. I think you’re amazing.