I have a proposal for you. In honor of pride month, I invite all of you to come out. I mean it, come out! All of you!

If you are gay, come out to your friends, neighbors and co-workers.

Before I did it nearly nine years ago, I never imagined that I would be able to come out in Texas at all. I always thought that I would have to move to California or the East Coast to find more open-minded people.

But when I moved to San Antonio in 2000, I was pleasantly surprised. People were accepting and welcoming, and I easily established a nice gay life for myself here.

If you're straight, you should come out, too. Seriously, come out! Come out to the gay bars and party with us. (I'll buy the first round).

Come celebrate pride month this weekend at HemisFair Park with us. I promise you, we're fun.

Come out to the gay pride block party and parade on July 1. Come on, who doesn't love a parade?

My point here is that there are so many of us, gay and straight, who think being gay is no big deal. Don't let our politicians, radical conservatives and religious nuts tell us how to treat each other.

Let’s show them that our generation can rise above intolerance and live like good neighbors.

Let’s tell them that we've had it with them telling us that we can't be friends and that we can't accept one another.

But most of all, let’s show them, by example, that a community is much stronger when it comes together.

I’ve been lucky enough to meet some great people who are on our side. I look up to these people. They care about us and want to see us live in a place that’s tolerant of everyone. It is people like this that make our world a better place.

So consider this your official invitation. Come celebrate the great diversity that makes up our city.

Come get to know your gay neighbors. You'll be surprised who you'll meet. Come out and make your life a little more gay — ummm — I mean, happy.
 
Joaquin Herrera | 210SA