In an earlier post, I described my life in self-imposed exile buried inside the closet, lonely and depressed.

If this was so terrible, then the question of “Why am I so happy?” should be confronted.

As I look back on my life, it becomes obvious that happiness was close, and it was only choosing the exile of the closet that caused an aching heart. The realization has struck that miserable memories could easily have been moments of joy and love. I recognize that I missed a high school love affair because I wouldn’t confess to a classmate that I was gay. He also never told me he was gay. But had I known Jeff was “that way” I could have had a high school romance with a man I loved. The past can’t be undone, but I find it comforting that happiness wasn’t impossible.

What happened is an introspective revolution. Painful memories are balanced by happy daydreams showing how close I came to living a happy and undepressed life. Having abandoned the despair of depression, I now dwell on the possibilities that were within my grasp if I had shared my gayness with others.

This revolution makes me happy. I see my life as marred by stupidity, and smarter decisions would have brought me happiness. Hence, I spend my days in a cheerful mood with comforting thoughts.

My current project is organizing Freedom Democrats who welcome all people with all their peculiarities. It’s a political coalition that includes drug users, women grappling with choices after pregnancy, sex workers, and fans of pornography. People who support freedom and reject censorious government. Our neighbors may support the life of a fetus, but they should have no power to impose their beliefs on others. This I believe will unite Freedom Democrats and make them a new wing of the Democratic Party.

What we are doing is creating a home for despised people. Freedom Democrats welcomes drug users, sex workers, persons carrying the burden of criminal convictions, LGBTQ+ people, and those who please themselves with erotic pictures.

All too often we face thoughtless hostility from the misguided persons who believe our habits should be condemned even though they have never met us. It’s a battle against stigma. Freedom Democrats offer a home for the excluded, their friends and allies. It is an opportunity for us to mix with opinion-makers and say we are fully capable and as worthy of respect as anyone else.