Her Campus Logo Her Campus Logo
placeholder article
placeholder article

Getting to Know Will: The Guy Who Came Out Over Facebook

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Pitt chapter.

The internet has a funny way of bringing all kinds of people together in harmony at the most unexpected times. With topics like LGBT, not everyone is as open-minded or publicly supportive as others, even if their ideals are in complete favor of all LGBT rights and beliefs. When something truly incredible happens though, it seems everyone sets aside their differences and just selflessly becomes happy for a courageous individual who may have changed their entire attitude.

I’ve known Will for awhile since we met at work and discovered each other was pretty talkative and equally silly. I always just thought of Will as a funny likeable person, not someone who was ever different. I’m glad I still feel this way about Will, after his Facebook status, where he came out to the world.

 I was so surprised to be just scrolling down my newsfeed like any other day, and suddenly his status showed, with over 100 likes at the time, just hours after he posted it. Currently, his status has now achieved over 400 likes.

Drumroll please… here’s Will’s status: “ITS TIME I SAID THIS……………I’M GAY……….and if you have a problem with that you know where the unfriend button is and if you support me just like this and continue on with your life cause nothing has changed here at all i love you all i hope you feel the same :D”

So many people coming from all different groups shared a bond when we all showed Will that we all support him no matter what. I hope his status post has moved everyone else as much as it’s shown me that we as a society really are connecting better by becoming much more accepting and caring for others.

 I was so inspired by Will’s bold move that I got some more of his personal opinions on how this has affected him as well as others.

HC: What made you decide to come out over Facebook?

Will: Easier than telling everyone individually.

 

HC: How did you feel after posting your status?

Will: Relieved and slightly nervous.

 

HC: What are some pieces of advice you would give to people on the fence about coming out still?

Will: Just do it however you want to cause people are a lot more accepting than you think. 

 

HC: How does it feel to have one of the most popular posts most of us have ever seen?

Will: I feel fantastic because it shows me that there’s hope in the world for the gay community. 

 

HC: Overall, what message do you hope to send out to people? Even ones who may not be as open minded as others.

Will: I am gay, I am still the same person who you loved or hated so nothing should really change. 

 

HC: I think your status really helped people become more accepting of others who may be different. what other ways do you think we could all try and get more people to be open minded?

Will: Really just trying them to get to see the other person’s point of view.

 

HC: Other comments about yourself/how awesome you are/anything else you’d like to add?

Will: For anyone reading this don’t read that much into it because everyone is a different person and if you have a problem with a person then just don’t be involved with them. It’s as simple as that…..and for anyone else like me I know you think of doing this kinda thing all the time so just build up the courage and do it. I know it’s not easy but most of this world will still love you the way you are and for the rest of the people who don’t …..excuse the language but you can go f*** yourselves.

 

Hi! My name is Amanda and I am one of the new Campus Correspondents for HC Pitt and am absolutely loving it! Helping others with advice about their articles and getting to read amazing stories has been so rewarding. I love writing about topics that make people's days just a little cheerier! Her Campus has been a wonderful experience for me over the past four years. I get to work with an amazing team every day and could not be more grateful. As a senior, looking back from where I started with Her Campus, I see how much it's changed me and all of the great friends I've made from it too. Saying HC is one of the best things that has happened to me during my college career would be an understatement! I really love how much it has grown and how much others have benefitted from their experience with our organization. HCXO <3
Hey, I'm Chris Baker and I just began writing for HerCampus at Pitt. I love God, my family and friends, sports, and my amazing fraternity, Pi Kappa Phi. I love to talk, write, and engage with people, in particular, I like to argue, haha. I love Pitt so if you go here and don't already know me, you should find me and get to know me! Contact me anytime at cbb17@pitt.edu,Thanks for reading!