“There are some people in their 40s and 50s, like myself and my partner Steve, who are still figuring out who they are. But thankfully for us, we are two people who know exactly who we are and what makes us happy. I think it’s a gift and a skill. It’s not something that can be taught either. It’s something you have to feel. It’s a feeling and you just have to believe in it. And some people are skeptical. I’ll even admit that Steve and I are skeptical too about certain things that happen in the world. But about each other, we’re not skeptical at all. I can say that when it comes to both my background and Steve’s background, we come from unconditional love. Seeing how his family welcomes me and the way my family accepts him, it’s just unconditional love with no expectations. Sure, there are issues. But at the end of the day, you just love the person. And that’s how we work well together.
The best piece of advice I could give to a younger queer person would be that it is okay to explore yourself. It’s safe and normal to trust your instincts as long as those instincts are healthy. And you should never be ashamed of your identity if it is your most comfortable self. The best thing you can do is to build a belief that you have worth and that you will find light.”
— John McCann (he/him), 40, cis-male, gay.
