To celebrate National Storytelling Week we are sharing stories from our incredible friends, giving an insight into people’s different experiences of being #OutTogether and exploring the highs and lows of coming out, across different ages and generations.
Judith’s story
Judith is 75 this year and came out at the age of 45 when, to her surprise, she fell in love with a woman – her now wife, Chris. Judith talks to us about the situation she was in; being married to a man, with a child and in what many of her friends would describe as a very heterosexual relationship.
Judith explains her interest in sexuality in general meant she was always very open to everybody else’s expressions of sexuality. Judith says: “Because I was older, I was probably a very independent person and I didn’t care as much about what people thought about me, as I might have done when I was 16. I was a mature, adult woman.”
On coming out she explains, “Some friends found it interesting, some found it funny, a couple of friends didn’t take it seriously and a couple of friends were very critical and scared about what I might do as a ‘lesbian’.
“Chris and I decided we’d be open and honest with people about our relationship and treat it as normal. We introduce each other as ‘my wife’ and people tend to receive us that way.”
Judith explains she feels lucky she hasn’t experienced discrimination or had to explain herself, and is aware that a lot of people do.
“I’m proud of my relationship and of my community.”
Listen to Judith’s interview below.