The article addresses a gay man's concern about attending a family wedding while remaining closeted to his conservative relatives. He contemplates asking a close friend, Desiree, to accompany him as a 'beard' to avoid awkward matchmaking situations. The column reassures him that his decision to stay in the closet for familial ties isn't wrong, acknowledging the emotional weight of such choices. Ultimately, it emphasizes the importance of personal comfort and the complexities of balancing one's identity with family expectations.
"Being gay in Trump's America, particularly this iteration of it, is hard enough, so I completely understand your desire to make things easier on yourself... negotiate your personhood for the sake of continuing a relationship with people that you care about is such a brutal burden to bear."
"I don't think it's right to judge you for remaining closeted to your family; this is a decision you're actively making and right now, it's what you feel you have to do."
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