For me, living in the closet corroded my ability to have an honest, open relationship with my God, my loved ones, my constituency and myself.

But being in the closet uniquely assisted me in politics. From my first run for the state legislature until my election as governor, all too often I was not leading but following my best guess at public opinion.

I do not believe that God tortures any person simply for its own sake. I believe that God enables all things to work for the greater good.

When I came out publicly, some photo editors had a field day searching for pictures of me with a limp wrist or some other stereotypical gay signifier - as though, after decades in the public eye, they'd suddenly come across a trove of shots where I looked like a Cher impersonator.

I've never been much for self-revelation. In two decades of public life, I always approached the limelight with extreme caution. Not that I kept my personal life off-limits; rather, the personal life I put on display was a blend of fact and fiction.

Throughout my life, I have grappled with my own identity, who I am. As a young child, I often felt ambivalent about myself; in fact, confused.

I try to be grateful for the abundance of the blessings that I have, for the journey that I'm on and to relish each day as a gift.