--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I remember just calling myself gay was a…" description: "\"I remember just calling myself gay was a big step for me, and I remember being in the bathroom brushing my teeth, testing out to myself in the mirror, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/871/wilson-cruz-13188_gay_i-remember-just-calling-myself-gay-was-a_2662942.jpg" --- # I remember just calling myself gay was a big step for me… ![“I remember just calling myself gay was a big step for me, and I remember being in the bathroom brushing my teeth, testing out to myself in the mirror, saying, 'I am gay,' and seeing if the world was going to stop or if the ceiling would fall in on me.” quote by Wilson Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/871/wilson-cruz-13188_gay_i-remember-just-calling-myself-gay-was-a_2662942.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/871/wilson-cruz-13188_gay_i-remember-just-calling-myself-gay-was-a_2662942.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/871/wilson-cruz-13188_gay_i-remember-just-calling-myself-gay-was-a_2662942.jpg) > “I remember just calling myself gay was a big step for me, and I remember being in the bathroom brushing my teeth, testing out to myself in the mirror, saying, 'I am gay,' and seeing if the world was going to stop or if the ceiling would fall in on me.” [Wilson Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilson-cruz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Coming out is a courageous act that tests personal and societal acceptance. **In simple terms:** Coming out tests self‑acceptance and societal reaction. Key Takeaway Embrace authenticity despite fear. Themes courage identity acceptance LGBTQ Mood hopeful empowering Type personal social When to use this quote - personal milestones - community support - public advocacy Key Concepts self‑affirmation social stigma Questions to Reflect On - What supports help during coming out? - How can society become more accepting? A Different Perspective Fear of rejection can be paralyzing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bathroom Brushing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bathroom-brushing-2442521/) [Calling Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calling-gay-955987/) [Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay/) [Gay Seeing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay-seeing-2442520/) [Homosexuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homosexuality/) [Mirror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mirror/) [Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myself/) [Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember/) [Remember Bathroom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember-bathroom-2442519/) [Saying Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saying-gay-903443/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [It's unfortunate we live in a society where "gay" is an insult. To some of these boys, who are from really red states and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-farrier/it-s-unfortunate-we-live-in-a-society-where-gay-is-an-insult-to-some/) [David Farrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-farrier/) > [I grew up singing and dancing, so people have been calling me gay since fifth grade. I've heard everything you could possibly hear about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-morrison/i-grew-up-singing-and-dancing-so-people-have-been-calling-me-gay/) [Matthew Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-morrison/) > [“And stop calling people gay. I don't even know why that's an insult. There are real gay people in the world, you know, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-kahn-gale/and-stop-calling-people-gay-i-don-t-even-know-why-that-s-an-insult/) [Eric Kahn Gale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-kahn-gale/) > [Calling him FAKE won't make you REAL Calling him DUMB won't make you SMART Calling him WEAK won't make you STRONG Calling him UGLY…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/calling-him-fake-won-t-make-you-real-calling-him-dumb-won-t-make-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Before I came out, the thought of someone calling me gay, even when I knew very well that I was, was petrifying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troye-sivan/before-i-came-out-the-thought-of-someone-calling-me-gay-even-when-i/) [Troye Sivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troye-sivan/) > [People always be calling me gay or fag, well I like girls too but I also find alot of guys cute but all these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-campbell/people-always-be-calling-me-gay-or-fag-well-i-like-girls-too-but-i/) [Mike Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-campbell/) > [It's 2013, if you're calling someone out for being gay you've obviously never left your house before and you probably shouldn't ever again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-2013-if-you-re-calling-someone-out-for-being-gay-you-ve/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm not saying that being gay is what defines me, but at the same time, if you feel like you have to hide it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-ball/i-m-not-saying-that-being-gay-is-what-defines-me-but-at-the-same-time/) [Alan Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-ball/) > [Saying 'I'm not against gay marriage, I am against all marriage' is bogus. It's not really about marriage, it's about respect and equality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/saying-i-m-not-against-gay-marriage-i-am-against-all-marriage-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ \[Barack Obama\] was running for Senate and he's saying, I'm not for gay marriage because I'm a Christian. Jump off a bridge! I mean… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-ayers/barack-obama-was-running-for-senate-and-he-s-saying-i-m-not-for-gay/) [Bill Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-ayers/) > [I have never said a negative thing about anybody, even when the whole world was saying I was gay because Renée Zellweger cited fraud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-chesney/i-have-never-said-a-negative-thing-about-anybody-even-when-the-whole/) [Kenny Chesney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-chesney/) > [If I said in one of my songs that my English teacher wanted to have sex with me in junior high, all I'm saying,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eminem/if-i-said-in-one-of-my-songs-that-my-english-teacher-wanted-to-have/) [Eminem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eminem/) > [Saying someone is gay who is gay no longer constitutes defamation or slander or libel. You cannot defame someone by telling the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-kramer/saying-someone-is-gay-who-is-gay-no-longer-constitutes-defamation-or/) [Larry Kramer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-kramer/) > [It would be so helpful for the straight community to see men in powerful positions coming out and saying "I'm gay" so they don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/it-would-be-so-helpful-for-the-straight-community-to-see-men-in/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [“Being gay isn’t a choice. It’s part of who we are, but people have been saying being gay is a choice so they can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-grey/being-gay-isn-t-a-choice-it-s-part-of-who-we-are-but-people-have-been/) [Andrew Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-grey/) ## More by Wilson Cruz > [It takes a certain kind of person who loves 'Star Trek' to bring it to life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilson-cruz/it-takes-a-certain-kind-of-person-who-loves-star-trek-to-bring-it-to/) [Wilson Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilson-cruz/) > [It's important that we continue to uplift and strengthen our LGBTQ youth who are the future of our community and remind them that their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilson-cruz/it-s-important-that-we-continue-to-uplift-and-strengthen-our-lgbtq/) [Wilson Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilson-cruz/) > [I learned so much about love from the movies. For a couple of hours, I would allow myself to dream about love and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilson-cruz/i-learned-so-much-about-love-from-the-movies-for-a-couple-of-hours-i/) [Wilson Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilson-cruz/) > [It's 'Star Trek!' It's as close to an American mythology as we get. To be a part of that storytelling after being a fan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilson-cruz/it-s-star-trek-it-s-as-close-to-an-american-mythology-as-we-get-to-be/) [Wilson Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilson-cruz/) > [My dad is now an incredibly important ally of mine. I'm so impressed with him. He's a hero to me because he put love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilson-cruz/my-dad-is-now-an-incredibly-important-ally-of-mine-i-m-so-impressed/) [Wilson Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilson-cruz/) > [When I came out, it didn't go well. My dad kicked me out. I ended up sleeping in my car.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilson-cruz/when-i-came-out-it-didn-t-go-well-my-dad-kicked-me-out-i-ended-up/) [Wilson Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilson-cruz/) > [I feel really fortunate and grateful that not only do I get to do what I love, but I get to do it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilson-cruz/i-feel-really-fortunate-and-grateful-that-not-only-do-i-get-to-do/) [Wilson Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilson-cruz/) > [The thing about me and school was that as much as I felt that I didn't belong, as long as I was on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilson-cruz/the-thing-about-me-and-school-was-that-as-much-as-i-felt-that-i-didn/) [Wilson Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilson-cruz/) > [I like to bring a level of vulnerability and real humanity to the characters I play when appropriate, and I feel like Dr. Culber…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilson-cruz/i-like-to-bring-a-level-of-vulnerability-and-real-humanity-to-the/) [Wilson Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilson-cruz/) > [When I got the appetite for more and more theatre, all I could think of was trying to get back to New York.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilson-cruz/when-i-got-the-appetite-for-more-and-more-theatre-all-i-could-think/) [Wilson Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilson-cruz/) > [When you're 14, 15, the most important thing in your life should be education, because that's what's going to set you up for success…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilson-cruz/when-you-re-14-15-the-most-important-thing-in-your-life-should-be/) [Wilson Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilson-cruz/) > [It's important to take leaps of faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilson-cruz/it-s-important-to-take-leaps-of-faith/) [Wilson Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilson-cruz/) > [Let me speak for myself: I think I wanted to see people who looked like me on TV. I wanted to see people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilson-cruz/let-me-speak-for-myself-i-think-i-wanted-to-see-people-who-looked/) [Wilson Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilson-cruz/) > [Sometimes we make progress in leaps. And sometimes we make them in small steps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilson-cruz/sometimes-we-make-progress-in-leaps-and-sometimes-we-make-them-in/) [Wilson Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilson-cruz/) > [I think about a young person who is sitting at home, 13 or 14, a person of color, possibly questioning their sexuality, and watching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilson-cruz/i-think-about-a-young-person-who-is-sitting-at-home-13-or-14-a-person/) [Wilson Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilson-cruz/) [Explore all 51 Wilson Cruz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilson-cruz/) ## More Gay quotes > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [I'm not against gay people. I have a relative who is also gay. We can't help it if they were born that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-pacquiao/i-m-not-against-gay-people-i-have-a-relative-who-is-also-gay-we-can-t/) [Manny Pacquiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-pacquiao/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [Each of us is precious to God because each of us has their name written on the palms of God's hands. And God says…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/each-of-us-is-precious-to-god-because-each-of-us-has-their-name/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [“A disproportionate number of stories are love stories – and what is homosexuality but a special narrative of love?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bram/a-disproportionate-number-of-stories-are-love-stories-and-what-is/) [Christopher Bram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bram/) > [The Bible is to gays what Mein Kampf is to Jews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-tatchell/the-bible-is-to-gays-what-mein-kampf-is-to-jews/) [Peter Tatchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-tatchell/) > [I had to smile when stories emerged questioning whether I was gay. Obviously I knew I wasn't but people were curiously desperate to suggest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-radcliffe/i-had-to-smile-when-stories-emerged-questioning-whether-i-was-gay/) [Daniel Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-radcliffe/) > [Jesus never said a word about homosexuality. In all of his teachings about multiple things - he never said that gay people should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/jesus-never-said-a-word-about-homosexuality-in-all-of-his-teachings/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [Any home where there is love constitutes a family and all families should have the same legal rights, including the right to marry and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-taylor/any-home-where-there-is-love-constitutes-a-family-and-all-families/) [Elizabeth Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-taylor/) > [Since 'coming out,' I've marched in gay pride parades all around the world, I've filled my home full of rainbow tat and I've become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-carr/since-coming-out-i-ve-marched-in-gay-pride-parades-all-around-the/) [Liz Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-carr/) > [I tend to get reactions just by being on screen, because I guess I'm physically queer-coded or something. Especially with 'Star Wars;' I get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/i-tend-to-get-reactions-just-by-being-on-screen-because-i-guess-i-m/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) > [I didn't have any role models. I really thought I was doomed to this loveless, lonely life. I didn't know any gay people until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-batt/i-didn-t-have-any-role-models-i-really-thought-i-was-doomed-to-this/) [Bryan Batt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-batt/) > [ That is another theme in the book \[Dreams from My Father\]. How do we exercise more empathy in our public discourse? How do we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/that-is-another-theme-in-the-book-dreams-from-my-father-how-do-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Western culture is what keeps women and gays safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milo-yiannopoulos/western-culture-is-what-keeps-women-and-gays-safe/) [Milo Yiannopoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milo-yiannopoulos/) > [Unless you're of a certain age, you may not know my name, but you can Google it - I was a pretty big movie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tab-hunter/unless-you-re-of-a-certain-age-you-may-not-know-my-name-but-you-can/) [Tab Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tab-hunter/) [Browse all 5,038 Gay quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I remember just calling myself gay was a big step for me, and I remember being in the bathroom brushing my teeth, testing out to myself in the mirror, saying, 'I am gay,' and seeing if the world was going to stop or if the ceiling would fall in on me.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Wilson Cruz" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilson-cruz/i-remember-just-calling-myself-gay-was-a-big-step-for-me-and-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Gay" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilson-cruz/i-remember-just-calling-myself-gay-was-a-big-step-for-me-and-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/871/wilson-cruz-13188_gay_i-remember-just-calling-myself-gay-was-a_2662942.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/871/wilson-cruz-13188_gay_i-remember-just-calling-myself-gay-was-a_2662942.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/871/wilson-cruz-13188_gay_i-remember-just-calling-myself-gay-was-a_2662942.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I remember just calling myself gay was a big step for me, and I remember being in the bathroom brushing my…” — Wilson Cruz", "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": "Wilson Cruz", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilson-cruz/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I remember just calling myself gay...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilson-cruz/i-remember-just-calling-myself-gay-was-a-big-step-for-me-and-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilson-cruz/i-remember-just-calling-myself-gay-was-a-big-step-for-me-and-i/#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 } } ] } ```