--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have been a proud, openly gay man since…" description: "\"I have been a proud, openly gay man since I was 18.\" — Karamo Brown" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/447/karamo-brown-5694_been_i-have-been-a-proud-openly-gay-man-since_662844.jpg" --- # I have been a proud, openly gay man since I was 18. ![“I have been a proud, openly gay man since I was 18.” quote by Karamo Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/447/karamo-brown-5694_been_i-have-been-a-proud-openly-gay-man-since_662844.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/447/karamo-brown-5694_been_i-have-been-a-proud-openly-gay-man-since_662844.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/447/karamo-brown-5694_been_i-have-been-a-proud-openly-gay-man-since_662844.jpg) > “I have been a proud, openly gay man since I was 18.” [Karamo Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karamo-brown/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Openly embracing one's identity fosters authenticity and empowerment. **In simple terms:** Being openly gay empowers self.acceptance. Key Takeaway Live authentically and proudly. Themes identity pride authenticity Mood inspirational affirming Type personal motivational When to use this quote - personal relationships - public speaking - community leadership Key Concepts self‑acceptance visibility Questions to Reflect On - How does openness affect your confidence? - What support helps maintain pride? A Different Perspective May face discrimination or prejudice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay/) [Homosexuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homosexuality/) [Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man/) [Proud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proud/) ## Related quotes > [It's 2018, and being an openly gay man and an athlete, that is part of the face of America now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-rippon/it-s-2018-and-being-an-openly-gay-man-and-an-athlete-that-is-part-of/) [Adam Rippon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-rippon/) > [While it was refreshing to finally see an openly gay man speak at a Republican convention, it doesn't remove the stain of selecting Mike…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-newsom/while-it-was-refreshing-to-finally-see-an-openly-gay-man-speak-at-a/) [Gavin Newsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-newsom/) > [On the court, Jason Collins is not a huge basketball star, but he has already claimed his place in civil rights history as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/on-the-court-jason-collins-is-not-a-huge-basketball-star-but-he-has/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) > [Coming to the Gold Coast and being able to live as an openly gay man is really important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-daley/coming-to-the-gold-coast-and-being-able-to-live-as-an-openly-gay-man/) [Tom Daley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-daley/) > [“No one ever gave me an instruction manual on how to be an openly gay man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jameson-currier/no-one-ever-gave-me-an-instruction-manual-on-how-to-be-an-openly-gay/) [Jameson Currier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jameson-currier/) > [I’m an openly gay man playing an omnisexual hero, who is loved on both sides of the Atlantic. How could I not be proud…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrowman/i-m-an-openly-gay-man-playing-an-omnisexual-hero-who-is-loved-on-both/) [John Barrowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrowman/) > [I'm the first-ever openly gay female in the WWE.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-deville/i-m-the-first-ever-openly-gay-female-in-the-wwe/) [Sonya Deville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-deville/) > [In retrospect, the most unnerving aspect of being openly gay was that it turned out to be as disappointingly normal as being straight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-loud/in-retrospect-the-most-unnerving-aspect-of-being-openly-gay-was-that/) [Lance Loud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-loud/) > [An openly gay footballer would be exposed to abusive comments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philipp-lahm/an-openly-gay-footballer-would-be-exposed-to-abusive-comments/) [Philipp Lahm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philipp-lahm/) > [You can't be an openly gay movie star. You can't be an openly gay pop star, really - minus Ricky Martin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-jones/you-can-t-be-an-openly-gay-movie-star-you-can-t-be-an-openly-gay-pop/) [Rashida Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-jones/) > [As someone who is both an ethnic minority and openly gay, I often talk about how simply being who I am has given me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-takano/as-someone-who-is-both-an-ethnic-minority-and-openly-gay-i-often-talk/) [Mark Takano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-takano/) > [When I was in high school I got involved in the fringe theater scene in Chicago, and I met some openly gay people. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/when-i-was-in-high-school-i-got-involved-in-the-fringe-theater-scene/) [Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/) > [I'm openly gay, and I've got a major label record deal in Nashville, and it happened when I was 42 years old. It's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gauthier/i-m-openly-gay-and-i-ve-got-a-major-label-record-deal-in-nashville/) [Mary Gauthier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gauthier/) > [I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport. But since I am, I'm happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/i-didn-t-set-out-to-be-the-first-openly-gay-athlete-playing-in-a-2/) [Jason Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/) > [We cheer the presence of an openly gay woman or man on television there are large numbers of people in Virginia and other states…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-white/we-cheer-the-presence-of-an-openly-gay-woman-or-man-on-television/) [Mel White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-white/) ## More by Karamo Brown > [I think that's one of the greatest gifts that I have: that I can get someone to open up, and all you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karamo-brown/i-think-that-s-one-of-the-greatest-gifts-that-i-have-that-i-can-get/) [Karamo Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karamo-brown/) > [There's a lot of 'how to adopt' books, but there's no practical resource for, say, school supplies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karamo-brown/there-s-a-lot-of-how-to-adopt-books-but-there-s-no-practical-resource/) [Karamo Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karamo-brown/) > [I was on MTV's 'Real World' at the time when 'Queer Eye' came out. I remember, the first time I won an award, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karamo-brown/i-was-on-mtv-s-real-world-at-the-time-when-queer-eye-came-out-i/) [Karamo Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karamo-brown/) > [The challenges of me being a father are just the same as any other father.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karamo-brown/the-challenges-of-me-being-a-father-are-just-the-same-as-any-other/) [Karamo Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karamo-brown/) > [Encourage your friend and family member who are queer parents of color to post their stories and share it with the world. It's time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karamo-brown/encourage-your-friend-and-family-member-who-are-queer-parents-of/) [Karamo Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karamo-brown/) > [My photo has nothing to do with the person I am, the dreams I have, the family I want to build, the family I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karamo-brown/my-photo-has-nothing-to-do-with-the-person-i-am-the-dreams-i-have-the/) [Karamo Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karamo-brown/) > [Even when you look at, like, movies with some of our famous celebrities, they don't really cry and bring out their tears until, like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karamo-brown/even-when-you-look-at-like-movies-with-some-of-our-famous-celebrities/) [Karamo Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karamo-brown/) > [While the Internet has allowed for some extraordinary progress in creating conversations about diversity, it also allows uninformed comments that one has made in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karamo-brown/while-the-internet-has-allowed-for-some-extraordinary-progress-in/) [Karamo Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karamo-brown/) > [In 2007, I discovered I was a father to a little boy who I did not know about. After being on MTV's 'The Real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karamo-brown/in-2007-i-discovered-i-was-a-father-to-a-little-boy-who-i-did-not/) [Karamo Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karamo-brown/) > [We're trying to get the world to see it's not always about the outside, it's about the inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karamo-brown/we-re-trying-to-get-the-world-to-see-it-s-not-always-about-the/) [Karamo Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karamo-brown/) > [My father loved me and was devoted to me until he knew I was gay, and then our relationship went south. So I always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karamo-brown/my-father-loved-me-and-was-devoted-to-me-until-he-knew-i-was-gay-and/) [Karamo Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karamo-brown/) > [In our country, being from immigrant parents, growing up black in the South, coming out at 16 years old, being a teen parent... you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karamo-brown/in-our-country-being-from-immigrant-parents-growing-up-black-in-the/) [Karamo Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karamo-brown/) > [We must do our part to make ourselves visible to the world. Let everyone see that being a queer parent of color is normal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karamo-brown/we-must-do-our-part-to-make-ourselves-visible-to-the-world-let/) [Karamo Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karamo-brown/) > [The worst thing about our political system is that people debate; I wish our politicians were able to talk to each other rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karamo-brown/the-worst-thing-about-our-political-system-is-that-people-debate-i/) [Karamo Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karamo-brown/) > [Homophobia, racism, and sexism are all rooted in the same oppression that causes a group of people to internalize the oppression they've experienced and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karamo-brown/homophobia-racism-and-sexism-are-all-rooted-in-the-same-oppression/) [Karamo Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karamo-brown/) [Explore all 100 Karamo Brown quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karamo-brown/) ## More Been quotes > [When I was trying to come up with a stage name, I thought 'Lord' was super rad, but really masculine - ever since I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorde/when-i-was-trying-to-come-up-with-a-stage-name-i-thought-lord-was/) [Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorde/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [Here's the reality. The image of a white Jesus has been used to justify enslavement, conquest, colonialism, the genocide of indigenous peoples. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/here-s-the-reality-the-image-of-a-white-jesus-has-been-used-to/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [I would have done well as a gypsy child, I think. A circus baby. I coulda played a great street urchin or ragamuffin. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/i-would-have-done-well-as-a-gypsy-child-i-think-a-circus-baby-i/) [Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/) > [A lot of people have been saying 'The 100' reminds them of 'Lord Of The Flies,' 'Lost' and 'Battlestar Galactica,' and all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-avgeropoulos/a-lot-of-people-have-been-saying-the-100-reminds-them-of-lord-of-the/) [Marie Avgeropoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-avgeropoulos/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [Well, I've been politically involved for a really long time. Growing up in the segregated South, it was a very painful experience for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cybill-shepherd/well-i-ve-been-politically-involved-for-a-really-long-time-growing-up/) [Cybill Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cybill-shepherd/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [I have always been a big meta guy because I think the way journalism is practiced in Washington, and the way everyone sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/i-have-always-been-a-big-meta-guy-because-i-think-the-way-journalism/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [Windmills and solar cells are carbon-free sources of electricity. But they are costly. If you've been investing in those, give it up. That game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-fisher/windmills-and-solar-cells-are-carbon-free-sources-of-electricity-but/) [Kenneth Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-fisher/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) > [I have never been in, nor have I had any strong particular desire to be in, what is termed a costume drama, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-have-never-been-in-nor-have-i-had-any-strong-particular-desire-to/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [There has always been a feeling with people that they love my singing but not always the choice of material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/there-has-always-been-a-feeling-with-people-that-they-love-my-singing/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [I've always been a believer in research. It's great to have an instinctual human reaction to a character, too, of course, but it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/i-ve-always-been-a-believer-in-research-it-s-great-to-have-an/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) Browse all 13,699 Been quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have been a proud, openly gay man since I was 18.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Karamo Brown" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karamo-brown/i-have-been-a-proud-openly-gay-man-since-i-was-18/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Been" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karamo-brown/i-have-been-a-proud-openly-gay-man-since-i-was-18/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/447/karamo-brown-5694_been_i-have-been-a-proud-openly-gay-man-since_662844.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/447/karamo-brown-5694_been_i-have-been-a-proud-openly-gay-man-since_662844.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/447/karamo-brown-5694_been_i-have-been-a-proud-openly-gay-man-since_662844.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I have been a proud, openly gay man since I was 18.” — Karamo Brown", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Karamo Brown", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karamo-brown/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I have been a proud, openly...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karamo-brown/i-have-been-a-proud-openly-gay-man-since-i-was-18/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karamo-brown/i-have-been-a-proud-openly-gay-man-since-i-was-18/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```