being gay in 2026. Have things changed? what's different?

Added: 2026-05-12

[00:00:00]Hello, and welcome to my video.

[00:00:03]So, on this one, I'm going to talk about what it's like being a gay man in 2026.

[00:00:10]I'm going to talk about how things have changed, how sometimes things haven't changed, is there still room for change, and what needs to be done.

[00:00:19]I'm going to mention my coming out video that I already put out a few weeks ago.

[00:00:24]If you haven't watched it already, I'll put it at the end of this one.

[00:00:28]I'm going to talk about some of the comments that were made, some really supportive ones, some really, really disturbing stories of what people are going through out there.

[00:00:38]So, I'm going to talk about if homophobia is still out there, and it's still a thing, and what you feel about that. Also, I'm going to talk about whether location matters, which country you live in, whereabouts in the country you live at if you're in the UK.

[00:00:52]Um when you did come out, whether it was '80s, '90s, 2000s.

[00:00:58]So, I've been very lucky. If you watched my other video, I was lucky I came out at the age of 34. I waited quite a while.

[00:01:05]But, my my friends and my family were really supportive, so that was really that really nice.

[00:01:12]But, reading the comments from my other video, I don't think everyone had the same support that I did.

[00:01:18]Um there's some really bad stories out there. So, before I get into some of those comments, um what it's like for me being a gay man in 2026, um I live in East Yorkshire, as you may already know. And I kind of find it it's all right. I don't really come across homophobia. Um all my friends are really supportive, and my family.

[00:01:40]At work, we're a small team of seven or eight of us.

[00:01:46]And there's lots of banter in the shop.

[00:01:48]We've We've all worked there many years, so we know each other really well, and there's lots of piss-taking banter. And it's good to know that people will bring up me being gay as part of the banter, and that makes me feel really accepted because it makes me feel no different.

[00:02:04]They will We will kind of if we're having a banter and having a go at each other, we'll we'll say anything. So, that's really good that I don't feel excluded. It's talked about, so that's nice. And I wouldn't have it any other way, really. It makes me feel really accepted, so I work with a good team. So, I've got a notepad out cuz I've wrote down a few of the comments that were on my coming out video. So, I'm just going to read through a few of those.

[00:02:28]I just need my readers. Bear with me.

[00:02:33]So, I'll start with this first comment.

[00:02:37]It says, "I have distanced myself from my family because of the lack of acceptance."

[00:02:44]Ooh, that doesn't sound so good, does it?

[00:02:47]Fancy having to distance yourself from your family because you don't feel accepted.

[00:02:53]Yeah, that that one when I read it I I did feel concerned for this person. I think I I wrote if they're all hope they're all okay.

[00:03:01]But, yeah, that's that's something to think about, isn't it? Not everybody is as lucky as I was.

[00:03:07]They're not accepted, and this person had to distance herself from the family, so that wasn't very nice.

[00:03:15]Right, I'll just have a look at this next one.

[00:03:19]So, I can really relate to this one.

[00:03:22]Um The commenter has put, "I use humor to tell people I was gay.

[00:03:31]However, some of the words said back to me in jest hurt, but I kept my true feelings inside so as not to rock the boat and feel accepted."

[00:03:41]So, I can relate to it because yeah, I do use humor a lot as, you know, part of me getting That's just how who I am and how I am.

[00:03:49]But, um fancy actually feeling hurt by some of the words back, but but not wanting to say anything cuz you're all well they're accepting me, so I don't want to rock the boat.

[00:04:00]Yeah, that must have been that must have been tough for that person.

[00:04:04]Yeah.

[00:04:06]Anyway, I'll read the next one.

[00:04:12]Oh, so this was just a nice comment. I thought I'd mention it. Somebody had put in the comments, "My coming out My coming out story almost mirrors yours.

[00:04:20]Thanks for sharing."

[00:04:22]So, that's nice to hear. There was lots of support on that video. There's hundreds of comments, and that person that's just a little comment like that it means a lot to me, so that was nice to hear.

[00:04:33]It's not all bad out there, and that goes to prove it really.

[00:04:37]So, I'll just going to read the next one.

[00:04:42]"It's a shame that even today it's expected for gay men to come out.

[00:04:46]Straight people don't have to come out as straight, so why should gay people?

[00:04:51]You love who you love, so it should be that simple."

[00:04:56]So, that was a really good That's a really good point that this person's made.

[00:05:00]Why is it I don't think we're quite there, are we?

[00:05:04]Because why do you have to come out as gay? Why should your sexuality define you?

[00:05:10]Why do you feel like you'd have to tell your parents that you're gay? You don't You don't become a teenager and announce to your parents that you're straight, so yeah, we're not quite there, are we? One are we?

[00:05:21]But, yeah, that was a great comment.

[00:05:23]I've never thought of it like that, so great comment from that person.

[00:05:30]Right, I'll go on to the next one.

[00:05:35]"I came out early in life, but didn't have the support of my parents.

[00:05:39]The horrifying things that my mom said to me are hard to forget, but it all worked out in the end, and they eventually came around in the end.

[00:05:48]Thank you for your video.

[00:05:51]So, that's a shame, isn't it?

[00:05:55]Fancy Obviously, this person came out to the parents, and they didn't feel like they got support. And the horror And the way they put horrifying things that my mom said to me are hard to forget. So, obviously, the things that his mom said to him are still there. They're still hurting.

[00:06:12]Um cuz I just Obviously, when I came out to my mom, it was nothing but support, so I thought that's what happened to everybody, but reading that sort of comment, it wasn't They have put that they even that they eventually came round.

[00:06:26]But fancy having to wait and your parents eventually coming round to the fact you're gay.

[00:06:32]Anyway, thanks for the comment, whoever you are.

[00:06:35]I'm keeping the comments anonymous because they're all on They're all on there. They've all been put out publicly, but I'm just keeping them anonym- anonymous. I'm just reading them out.

[00:06:45]Anyway, let's get on to one more.

[00:06:48]So, this person has put "I'm so happy for you. I came out in my mid-30s like you after living a miserable and depressing life due to the religious brainwashing I had been subjected to. Now I am free and a happy gay man."

[00:07:06]So, I never even thought about religion, to be honest with you, cuz I'm not really from that a religious um background.

[00:07:14]But fancy having to keep your sexuality in because of your religion. So, reading between the lines, I don't know the ins and outs of this, but it sounds like they were from a religion where maybe homosexuality wasn't part of that religion. You couldn't be gay.

[00:07:30]So, they had to keep it in for that reason.

[00:07:33]But the person has put at the bottom, "Now I am free, a happy gay man." So, I guess they gave up their religion um to become gay, but fancy having to choose one or the other.

[00:07:45]So, that's a great comment. I've never thought of that side of it at all.

[00:07:51]Anyway, just um, a quick one. If you're liking this sort of content, if you're enjoying my video, please subscribe, like, and comment. I want lots of comments on this if you So, if you feel you've done something similar or a lot of these are resonating in your head and, you know, it's similar to your story, give us a comment. I'll try to get back to you.

[00:08:13]Anyway, back to a few more comments.

[00:08:14]There's not many more left.

[00:08:18]Anyway, the next one. You seem like a great stable guy. Keep it up. Like you said, if anybody has a problem with it, they are not the right people anyway.

[00:08:28]So, this person is quoting from what I said on the other video. It was They were my words.

[00:08:33]And they're totally right. If they're not okay with it, they're not the right people. You shouldn't have to pretend to be something you're not just to keep friends or family to your side.

[00:08:43]So, they're obviously agreeing with my comments and yeah, I'll say it again.

[00:08:48]I'll totally agree.

[00:08:50]Right, let's just find another one.

[00:08:53]Oh, this was a shame, this one. And another thing I never thought of. So, I'll just read it out.

[00:09:00]Um, I am 68 now. When I was 19, I was in the army and got discharged for being gay.

[00:09:07]When my dad found it out, he went mad and threw me out of the family home.

[00:09:12]The last words my dad said to me was, "I just want you to die."

[00:09:17]It still haunts me today.

[00:09:20]That's deep.

[00:09:22]That's awful. What an awful thing to go through.

[00:09:26]Fancy one of your parents saying those words to you, "I just want you to die."

[00:09:31]Just because you're gay.

[00:09:34]That's That's awful.

[00:09:37]And he's put at the bottom that it still haunts me today. A 68-year-old guy.

[00:09:42]Well, I hope you're okay if you are listening to this.

[00:09:46]Um that one's shocking.

[00:09:49]Right. Only a couple more left.

[00:09:52]Um somebody has put Oh, I like this one.

[00:09:55]Somebody has put It's only a short one.

[00:09:57]Paul, those who matter don't mind, and those who mind don't matter.

[00:10:03]I think that sums it up in a nutshell.

[00:10:05]Um my take of it.

[00:10:07]Totally right. If they mind, get them out. It's a bit like what I said before, but and those who don't mind, they're the ones that matter. Totally agree.

[00:10:17]I'll just see how many's left. Oh.

[00:10:24]Yeah.

[00:10:25]There's not many left. One more, I think.

[00:10:27]So, this one says, "Hey Paul, I'm 73 and still living the lie. I'm really proud of you for uh telling the truth."

[00:10:36]And that's it. That's all they put.

[00:10:39]So, this guy is 73.

[00:10:41]And he's put still living the lie.

[00:10:43]So, I assume nobody knows he's gay.

[00:10:46]Can you imagine living your whole life your whole life and you've not told anybody?

[00:10:53]And holding that in, what must that be doing to you?

[00:10:57]And he was 73. If you're watching this, it's it's never too late.

[00:11:02]Never too late.

[00:11:04]I hope you're okay.

[00:11:06]Right. So, that was the last comment.

[00:11:08]So, I'll just sum it up.

[00:11:10]So, your stories are telling me like the importance of like gay pride. People do great go to these gay pride events, and it's showing awareness that it is okay to be gay. It is okay to love whoever you love. It doesn't matter.

[00:11:25]I personally don't go to gay pride events. Um it's just not my thing, but I totally agree with it.

[00:11:31]And if it wasn't gay pride, things would have wouldn't have moved on. And they are moving on. I feel like we're nearly there, but there's still a long way to go.

[00:11:42]Um I totally respect the people to the that go to the gay pride events and I guess I'm I'm very grateful for you doing the awareness. Maybe I wouldn't be in this position if gay pride events weren't a thing.

[00:11:56]So, I'm going to sum it up in the only way I know. So, you know I said I use humor.

[00:12:01]This is my take of it.

[00:12:03]So, everybody likes crisps. I like crisps. You like crisps. Everybody likes crisps.

[00:12:09]Some people like prawn cocktail. Some people like beef.

[00:12:14]Some people used to like prawn cocktail, but now they like beef.

[00:12:18]Some people don't like any of those flavors. Some people like plain. Some people like the other flavors.

[00:12:24]Some people get a bowl, put every flavor in it, and mix it up. It doesn't matter.

[00:12:29]It doesn't matter. Why can't we just all enjoy crisps? Everybody loves crisps.

[00:12:34]Right.

[00:12:36]So, I'll come to the end of the video now. So, if you do want to watch my coming out video, I'll try and pop it up there.

[00:12:42]I'd like some comments. Um please subscribe if you have liked this sort of content. And thank you very very much for watching, and I will see you on the next one. Thank you very much. Bye now.