“No one should ever feel like this,” reads the accompanying text as former footballer Lachlan Beaton shares his coming out story to promote the #EqualLove campaign to end marriage inequality in Australia.
“For years I hated myself — I hated who I was,” he says in the emotional clip, describing how his internalized homophobia led to a decade of depression.
“My lowest point was in my mid-20s. I would drink excessively because I wanted to escape. I would tell myself I wasn’t fit to be in this world,” he continues.
“I would over-compensate and try to be more manly and blokey.”
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“I would use fake names to meet people. I would lie to all of my friends in terms of what I was doing and where I was. I would be angry and lose my temper very easily — sometimes I would damage property. ”
He finally came out to his friends and family at 27 years old, and though he feared the worst, found acceptance.
Watch below:
Frank Croix
Yum
Zack Walston
Wish hadn’t have waited to come out but its understandable.
Stefano
The guy on the right of the picture looks like me when i was in my 20s (except i have blue eyes). Poor guy. Lol
PRINCE OF SNARKNESS aka DIVKID
Wow that was a downer :/ “The happiness Trainer” um, OK. You’ve indeed accomplished a tremendous amount by overcoming a great deal and that’s cause for celebration and a worthy message to send out to the kids you wish to inspire..but maybe when you’re feeling bit perkier, eh?
Jonty Coppersmith
@Zack Walston:
I wish I hadn’t waited too, but when your bombarded with the message that gay is evil from all directions, it tends to make you fear losing your home, your job, your family or your friends. I know where he was coming from. Sadly it took me until age 27 to work up the nerve. I regret losing those prime years, not having a normal high school experience, college experience, et.
No use crying over spilt milk as they say. Hopefully it will be easier for kids these days to make better decisions that I did at that age, but we still have a way to go in our society.
Billy Budd
He is very cute. I am sure he can find boyfriends easily.
Chris Mommaerts
So happy for you
Julius Jamora
Love is the best thing in the world .when you find it ,,,,hold on to it……ð??ð??ð??ð??ð??ð??ð??ð??ð??ð??
Raphael
HUM
Transiteer
Good on Ya, Mate. Welcome Home.
Ander
@Billy Budd: but you do know that being cute is not a guarantee for happiness, right?
Ander
@Billy Budd: or having a boyfriend?
asby
Yet another “former” something ….Until it is someone who comes out while they are in the public eye…I could care less about their story
film2212
Some of us use the term “partner” too loosely
But I guess whatever makes a story
mz.sam
Wow, this ‘happiness’ coach can football some of his happiness my way.
Evji108
You’d think he would spell check his opening text. As it is it’s disasterous.