I'm glad she finally felt comfortable enough to come out

The Love That Will Finally Speak Its Name

Nine years after the death of her partner of 44 years and at the age of 88, Lorraine Barr came out in an essay in Newsweek feature, 'My Turn'.

She describes the world in which she lived where it was not only dangerous to express homosexuality, but no one even dared speak of it. A world where you could be fired. A world where her partner and she kept separate bedrooms for years for appearances. A family that knew but kept their secret, without anyone ever talking about it.

But as she put it, no one can fire her now. Her family is long gone. This is something she had to do for herself, to be true to herself. And while I mourn the fact that she did not feel safe enough to do so before--especially while she and her lover were still together--that she had the courage to do so now, and in such a public way. Perhaps it will inspire others who live that dual world to be true to themselves.