I came out as a lesbian when I was 17. I lived in San Francisco most of my adult life surrounded by a pretty accepting culture. I think that being 'out' where ever I was, was preparation to simply being. I joined a spiritual community 9 years ago and realize now that instead of this being an atmosphere where being out (in every sense) was expanded, I was actually encouraged to climb back into a closet. I was subtly, and not so subtly, told that what I was, what I did, wasn't OK. It was expected that I would conform to the guru's idea of what was OK to be expressed in all facets of my life. I was encouraged to not trust my heart. I left this community about 2 months ago and I'm coming out... again and again and again, simply being.