Six Things I Would Say to Tom Daley

1. Congratulations. Living your life openly and honestly is not always easy, but it is always worth it in the long run.
2. Some people are calling you gay, some people are calling you bisexual. Forget them. You are nineteen years old! What matters is that you are in a relationship with someone who makes you happy, you have plenty of time to figure out the rest.
3. You owe it to yourself to be honest and open not just with us, but also with your doctor, and he may actually want to know some more personal stuff. As a guy who is in a relationship with another guy, you may want to consider things like the HPV Vaccine, Hep Vaccines, and regular HIV testing. Take care of yourself, you deserve a long and happy life.
4. You got a lot of love and support today, and that it because of the people who came along this path before you. Those people who came before you and their stories are now a part of you and your journey. You owe it to yourself to seek out these stories. The struggles of LGBT folks are not told to you by your mother at bedtime, and they are rarely shared by the family around the table on Christmas day. You have to discover them yourself. Find them on the bookshelf, but also find them from mentors in our community. Their stories and struggles are amazing and powerful, and they will help you.
5. You’ve surely figured this out by now, but your legions of gay fans are interested in you for more than just your brain. Many men seem to be a lot more focused on physical appearance than women are, which may make you more prone to judge yourself by your appearance. Don’t fall into this trap. You have a lot more to offer the world than just your looks. Make a point of hanging around people who recognize this truth. And with regards to your good looks, as Rufus Wainwright once said, ‘Watch your head about it’.
6. You are the same person you were before this video came out. With all the same talent and drive. All the same capacity to love and be loved. The same worth, and the same dignity. Don’t ever doubt this for a moment. There is a brotherhood of men who have fought, and continue to fight, for our right to live our lives openly. That brotherhood of men, those who still live today, and those who are no longer with us, take great joy in knowing that your path will be even a even the slightest bit easier than our own. Your happiness, your love, and your honesty … well it makes the struggle all seem worthwhile. Be Happy.

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