Yep, he is...

So... yesterday, one of my best friends made an announcement. Splashed across the cover of People Magazine he announced, "I'm Happy." Sure, he may have chosen a different word- his being, "gay", but when is the last time you really looked at the real definition of that word?

Gay
1 a : happily excited : MERRY gay mood> b : keenly alive and exuberant : having or inducing high spirits gay spring song>
2 a : BRIGHT, LIVELY <gay sunny meadows> b : brilliant in color
3 : given to social pleasures; also : LICENTIOUS

Sure, the fourth one mentions something about homosexuality (members of the same sex engaging in sexual activity- privately and behind closed doors where it is no one else's business what you do (including all of you kinky straight people who don't want to be judged for the sling that may be hanging from your ceiling or the drawer of toys you keep locked from your children)), but let's not focus on what we already know. Instead, let's think about a term society has decided to equate with sin, immoral behavior, and negative connotation, when in actuality, it means happily excited, bright and lively.

For most of us who know gay people, no matter how mean and cruel life has been to them, don't you find they are usually the happiest and liveliest people you know? Is that really such a bad thing? They have spent their childhood hiding and suffering in secrecy until one day they explode and can no longer live in fear of who they are. Spending every waking day of the rest of their lives living each moment in brilliant color. With all of the chaos, pain, anger, violence, war, hatred, intolerance and suffering in the world, who is to say that living a happy and vibrant life is such a bad way to be? Perhaps the people quickest to put down "gay people" are only projecting their own discomfort, jealousy and unhappiness with themselves since we all know misery loves company and would rather have the happy people join their discontent. Imagine if instead, everyone rose above and found their happiness, joy and vitality.

Everyone has been eager for my opinion on Lance's news with questions ranging from benign to outrageous. Did you know? How long have you known? Did you and Lance date? Is he a top or a bottom? Why now and not sooner?

I will go on record and say Lance and I have never dated. He has been and is one of my best friends. I don't often talk about it so vocally and candidly, but I figure right now is as good of a moment as any. What started as nothing more than a fan getting to meet one of his favorite bands du jour has resulted in a six year friendship that has taken me across the country and back and allowed me VIP backstage access to some of life's most colorful and privy experiences that I know most people never get to see.

It has been my privilege to be his friend and a confidante and to be by his side as he has struggled and gone through the process over the last few years about all that this announcement would mean (not just privately as most of us deal with, but also publicly) and figuring himself out as a person. Yes, he really is a human. I have watched his comfort level sway and I have watched him trip and stub his toes. I have also watched him stand back up with poise and I have watched his confidence blossom. While certainly not perfect (he's not the best at committing to events, which also makes it a pleasant surprise when he shows up), he is without question one of the most generous and kind hearted people I have ever known. I could not live the life I do had he not been so generous in his friendship with me.

With that said, I couldn't be more proud to be standing by him at this time and calling him a friend. I tip my hat to him and my smile beams. Everyone's comments on his myspace page and on my website below have been amazing and I am so humbled and thankful by the beautiful responses. It is very much a relief to see how far we have come as a society. Granted, we are still a million miles behind the curve ball, but a long distance from where we were even thirteen years ago when I myself wrestled with the same demons. Yes, it's true, I wasn't always the open gay boy who is now so willing to share every detail of my life. I too once hid in the shadows of my unhappy self.

I know there are detractors and haters who will be against all of this and to them I do not feel anger, I feel sadness. I ask that when you encounter them, you treat them the same. My sympathy goes out to anyone living a sad and bitter life who want nothing more than company. And to them I want to ask, why don't you step outside of your comfort zone and be happy? Rise above and join us in our level of comfort and live your life with the same brilliant color. We can promise we won't make you practice same-sex, but we may make you dance with us!

xox