Out

Even in what is (in most ways) the safest of environments, I'm aware as I never have been before of the ways people are out or not about our identities. We've been coming out about our race, our sexuality, our gender, our experiences. For the first time I'm regularly outing myself as nontheist in a religious setting, which is harder than I would have thought.

Of course, that difficulty in me is nothing compared to what it takes for some people. I had never realized what a moving experience it can be when someone comes out to you. I had never appreciated what an act of faith it is - like a bird landing in my hands, trusting I won't crush it.