Today I witnessed power. Today I witnessed strength. Today I witnessed courage. Today I witnessed love.

I have been teaching at my current school for eight months now. When I got hired this summer, there was one student who sat on my student interview panel. I could tell immediately that this student was direct, the kind that said what was on her mind with absolutely no sugar coating whatsoever. Once I was hired, she approached me immediately and asked if I was going to facilitate the GSA.

I'm not sure if she was comfortable outing herself to me because she knew I am a lesbian but she immediately disclosed her sexuality to me. I didn't think twice when she brought her girlfriend to Family Night at work but I was told by staff that have worked at our school longer than I have that this was the first time she felt comfortable enough to bring her girlfriend, hold her hand in public and refer to her as 'girlfriend.'

Today, this student graduated. Part of the graduation process at my school is to give a presentation on projects that the student completed while at school and this student presented her history essay on the experiences of LGTBQI students in the United States.

What was amazing about today's presentation is that her entire family was in attendance-the same family that has repeatedly condemned her and her sexuality. Her girlfriend was also present today and she said the word 'girlfriend' multiple times in front of her family.

This presentation was extremely personal for this student. She spoke about her own challenges of not feeling safe and accepted and the battle she fought over coming out to herself and family. The graduation presentation does not require such a personal presentation, but the student chose by herself to present her most personal project to a room of twenty adults.

To continue with my last entry's theme, the importance of coming out is this: we come out ultimately for ourselves. Not everyone will accept us for who we are: fact. At the end of the day however, the most important thing is that we accept ourselves for ourselves. Today, there was visible proof that this student has truly accepted herself for who she is, sexuality included.

While practicing for this presentation, this student disclosed that she used to use drugs, ditch school, cut herself and even contemplated taking her own life because she did not accept herself. Two weeks ago Charlotte Dawson tragically took her own life as a result of cyber bullying. Just last week the Ugandan president signed legislation officially criminalizing homosexuality. The reality is that there are still people, states, governments, and countries that are prejudiced against the LGTBQI community and actively working to restrict rights and privileges.

Because of today's realities, the fact remain that coming out is difficult. It is difficult because as has been the case for this student, she has been rejected, judged, verbally abused and ridiculed simply for being who she is. No straight children have been kicked out of their homes for being straight. No parents have tried to convert their kids for liking kids of the opposite sex.

Today, this student loved herself. She loved herself in front of teachers, school board members and her family. A family that has not always shown love to her. A family that she chose to invite to her graduation presentation and include in an extremely personal project. A subject so personal they have still yet to accept this part of her. Ultimately she invited them because according to her at the end of the day to her, family is the most important aspect of her life. She has continued to show love to her family even when they have not reciprocated.

Like so many of us, this student struggled for some time to come to a level of acceptance with her sexuality because of the discrimination and prejudice she experienced. The fear and struggle that she felt was real. Not made up, not exaggerated, not embellished. She was made to believe on numerous occasions that there was something not right with her, something sinful, something wrong.

Today, this student was able to stand up in front of confidants, total strangers, and in front of the people who discriminated against her simply because she is who she is and declare that she is 'a gift'. Those were her words. One board member asked what the turning point in her life was and she replied that it was when she realized that she mattered. Every part of her, sexuality and all.

Yes getting to this destination has been more than difficult for her and she has not always shown love to herself which can be seen by her prior actions, but today she was able to. Able to in front of the people that questioned one of the most intimate aspects of her life.

Coming out shows love. Plain and simple. Loving oneself in a world that suggests or down right tells someone that they are wrong can be the most difficult thing in the world. To stand up and say that one loves him, her, their or xe self despite all this prejudice is the best way to fight back. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, 'Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that.'

Mia