Ah, dammit.

If people had any idea how often being even the least little bit kind to someone in that situation can give them the hope they need, they'd be a lot kinder.

I bounced at a few gay bars. You lose track of how many kids are finding the first moment of acceptance they've ever had. Or the ones that linger as long as they can because they don't have anywhere to go home to. Or the ones that are at the end of their rope, out at a bar because they need something resembling human kindness to make it one more day.

It's better than it used to be, but there's still plenty of people out there afraid, ashamed, or alone with no idea of how to keep going. Not just the kids, but adults, even old farts like me. There's people my age that still haven't come out at all, and more that don't feel safe or ready to come out more publicly. There's people older than me that have stayed in the closet longer than I've been alive.

Your get into this kind of situation, you do what you can. That's all you can do.

You know, I'd never thought about doing something like that. Tbh, that seems more helpful than most things; because you know where the person you're talking to is, and that you can go and see them in person. Like, you really shouldn't do that do a store clerk, that's not what they're being paid for; but at the same time, if I was in that position then I'd absolutely put my job on the line and take the time to talk and comfort them.

I wonder if LGBT-positive stores give people crisis training in case they get calls or emails like that. If not, then it might be worth considering doing that as a community. Then someone who's struggling can find their nearest LGBT-anything and have someone to talk to.

Turns out you can't read this story without crying either. 🥹💜

Ok that's awesome