Dad said that he was prouder of me than he'd ever been when I came out.

I never felt a need to manipulate my career from the outside - try to be someone I wasn't to get ahead.

I can't walk down the street with my head up. I'm not a hat wearer, but now I'm a hat wearer.

By the time I came out, that kind of stopped it. The bullying stopped when I claimed myself and proved that I wasn't afraid. A lot of it was when I was hiding when I was younger.

I actually have more respect for people who are in the closet. You end up exposing so much of yourself because you have to talk about your sexual life. You shouldn't have to talk about it.

I don't want to be the center of attention. My posture has changed. I walk with my head down and shoulders slumped. Suddenly I carry myself as if I'm ashamed of something.

Dad said that he was prouder of me than he'd ever been when I came out.