In a personal essay for Pride Month, out NBC News correspondent Steven Romo shares how much of his childhood revolved around growing up poor and gay. But he goes on to reveal that learning that releasing his secrets would become his superpower. https://www.instagram.com/p/C72HlObPCoo/ Just a few excerpts via Today.com:
What I wanted most back then was to be normal — to fit in. No matter how hard I tried and schemed, I never quite got there.
While other kids were getting dropped off at school by minivans glazed in blue, the jalopies that I arrived in were decorated with rust spots and cracked windows. And when most classmates were wearing crisp, new back-to-school clothes, I was washing my own clothes in the bathroom sink and using a permanent marker to try to resuscitate my faded, formerly black jeans.
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But then around fifth grade, a new secret I learned about myself made me feel even more alone. Just as many of the other boys started to show interest in girls, I figured out I was gay. I fought it. I tried to will myself straight. I tried to pray myself “normal.” When that didn’t work, I resorted to what felt most natural to me anyway: I decided to hide it.
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Coming out freed me. I finally gave myself permission to meet more LGBTQ+ people, and I learned that queer joy is even more powerful than queer sorrow.
It turns out, all those things I spent so much time and energy resisting and hiding as a kid have given me superpowers as an adult. And the radioactive spider? That turned out to be simple honesty, allowing me to spin webs of connection.
I’ve followed Steven for many years, as well as featuring him here on The Randy Report. Terrific journalist, plus he and his husband, meteorologist Stephen Morgan, are great role models for oh-so-many. I highly recommend you read the full essay here. https://www.instagram.com/p/CyRZJ2lOm_y/
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