What is disclosure all about? Why is it such a demonizing experience that we impose on those who are made to believe that something within them is wrong or broken? Let’s start with the definition. Disclosure is the action of making new or secret information known. This definition sounds much less stigmatizing and fearful than the reality of opening up about yourself, which often brings an overwhelming cascade of fear, shame, anxiety, and guilt. This happens because, on a surface level, we know that some people will judge and ultimately reject us for what makes us the people we have grown to love and be comfortable with.
Reflecting on my life, there are many things about myself that I haven’t necessarily kept secret, but I also haven’t shouted from the rooftops. I remember how disclosure has been used as both a tool and a weapon against me, simply for being who I am. At the time of my HIV diagnosis, I was battling a healthcare system that was far less inclusive than it is now. I was on a journey of self-discovery and wanted to medically transition from male to female. At this point, I had been living as a woman for many years but needed medical intervention to complete the process. Navigating that process was hard enough, but the new tenant that had just moved into my body’s immune system was about to make that transition goal much harder to obtain. Continue reading...
