In May, I decided it was time fot me to come out as bisexual to my friends, my chosen family.

Since I was a junior in high school I knew I was bi. But I shoved it aside. It felt absolutely wrong at the time. I pretended that I was this person. I mean, I grew up in a small conservative town.

That summer after junior year, I spent part of it in NYC visiting my oldest brother. The day I arrived just happened to be the same day as NY Pride 2013. He took me to the parade, and for the first time, I felt like myself. It was an absolute incredible experience that I would never forget.

The next time I started to embrace who I truly was wasn't until I moved to Portland, OR. As cliche as it sounds, it was a brand new start. I could start a whole new life. But Portland Pride 2016, when I marched with Starbucks, was when I accepted myself.

Shortly after that I moved back to Michigan to finish my degree. It was a difficult transition. Being back home I started to hide who I was again.

I got the feeling that my peers at school were accepting. I slowly and cautiously started to show my true self. But I could never tell them straight up, "I'm bi." I've made some great friends but sometimes, the people we're closest with, we fear telling them our secrets the most. Because we're afraid to be rejected by them.

That fear drove me crazy. I had it set in my mind that I would rather die than have them find out. And that almost happened.

I slowly began telling those closest to me one on one, before I made it public to everyone on social media.

I was overwhelmed by their positive reactions. My friends proved once again that family doesn't mean a bond by blood. Once they knew I felt instant relief that I wasn't keeping anything from them.

For once I'm not afraid to hide who I am.

I'm bi. I'm not confused and it's not a phase. And I rock the bowties.