A welcoming chorus of Sara Bareilles’s song “Brave” and inspirational words greeted students at the two Middle School Health assemblies celebrating Coming Out Stories. 

“It takes bravery to be your authentic self; it's also one way we can embody health. One aspect of our identity is who we fall in love with and who we don't: our orientations,” Director of Health and Wellness Justine Fonte explained, reading from a statement by Health Educator Geoffrey Perry. “When you truly know who you are and accept who you are, you will care for yourself better!” 

Dalton faculty and staff, who identify as gay, bisexual, pansexual, and nonbinary or agender bravely shared their stories of coming out. (Though as one teacher reminded students during the assembly, “You don’t really stop coming out. You’re always meeting new people and sharing who you are.”)

One by one, each story demonstrated some struggles, but also the joy and happiness felt at finally expressing each person’s authentical identity—and sharing those truths with loved ones. Some described it as having an enormous weight being lifted off their shoulders of carrying the truth they finally revealed. “Some coming out stories are really rough—and some are quite beautiful,” said one Middle School teacher. And of course, some talked about their complicated journey, sometimes happening all at once and sometimes taking longer; indeed, every coming out story is unique.

The assembly shined light on how “coming out of the closet” is a process of self-realization as well as a public statement of being LGBTQ+. Through these stories, students were shown that “coming out” not only builds self-awareness but also celebrates the importance of oneself. Students closed out the assembly by asking thoughtful questions about identity and the journey of self-acceptance; some questions regarding individual stories and other questions about how best to support their friends’ journeys. It was clear that the discussion was impactful in fostering empathy and allyship—and helped cement the understanding that each and every student belongs here.