Lesbian couple find beautiful note on their doorstep proving visibility is important
The lesbian couple from Texas found a heartwarming note on their doorstep. (Sal Stow/ Facebook)
A lesbian couple in Texas found a heartwarming note on their doorstep letting them know they had inspired a young person to come out.
Sal Stow and Meghan Stabler have flown a Pride flag at the front of their house for years, but they didn’t know the effect it had had on one of their neighbours.
When Stow came outside on June 19 to pick up a package, she found the note which read: “Hello. You don’t know me, but my name is [blanked out]. We’re moving away today, but I wanted to thank you.
Seeing a Pride flag waving so proudly outside your house every day has given me the courage to come out to my family and be more comfortable with who I am.”
Underneath is a drawing of a person waving two flags: one a transgender Pride flag, and the other a pansexual Pride flag.
The note left on the couple’s doorstep shows that visibility is always important. (Sal Stow/ Twitter)
Stow told PinkNews: “As I read the letter tears began to stream as I realised that our visibility had empowered and validated a young person to be comfortable in themselves to come out to their family.
“My next thought was that I hoped that they were ok, have support and their family was being supportive. Coming out takes courage as you don’t know how your family will respond.”
Stow said proudly flying the flag was important to them as they live in a conservative area and wanted to show other LGBT+ people that might see it that their home was a welcoming safe space.
“We need to maintain visibility every day,” said one half of the lesbian couple
Stow has a message for the note writer: “If they see this please know – We see you, we hear you, you are loved and are always welcome in our home.”
“This young person, without knowing, has empowered countless people throughout the world,” she said.
“Their sharing of what visibility means to them is a huge reminder that visibility is a 24/7, year-round thing. The LGBTQ+ community and allies need to maintain visibility everyday, no matter how small. It is so important.”
Stow is a national governor for the Human Rights Campaign and Stabler is on the board of directors at Planned Parenthood.
