Old School. Biblically Independent.
By Kristy Puchko | Twitter | December 5, 2016
Oh, Twitter. You can be a fecund steam trash fire. But sometimes, you are a place of grace and shared stories that are vital and radiant in our dark times.
This story involves the coming out arc on Supergirl, the guiding hand of a self-proclaimed "super duper gay" comic store clerk, and a powerful reminder that representation matters.
So, I want to tell you all what happened in the store today. It's probably the single greatest moment I have ever experienced working here.
— 🌈Mary🌈 (@sapphicgeek) December 3, 2016
@sapphicgeek After the usual Saturday rush, a teenage girl comes in. She looks absolutely terrified and when I greet her she jumped.
— 🌈Mary🌈 (@sapphicgeek) December 3, 2016
@sapphicgeek She starts going up and down the new release wall and the poor thing looks completely overwhelmed.
— 🌈Mary🌈 (@sapphicgeek) December 3, 2016
@sapphicgeek So, I make my way over to her and ask if I can help her find anything. She quietly admits that she was looking for Supergirl.
— 🌈Mary🌈 (@sapphicgeek) December 3, 2016
@sapphicgeek We're walking to the Super area when I ask if she watches the show. She smiles a bit and nods. Says Alex is her favorite.
— 🌈Mary🌈 (@sapphicgeek) December 3, 2016
@sapphicgeek I mention that I'm a huge #Sanvers shipper and the poor thing just breaks down in tears.
— 🌈Mary🌈 (@sapphicgeek) December 3, 2016
@sapphicgeek I'm trying to figure out what the hell I did to upset her. She's crying and I'm freaking out.
— 🌈Mary🌈 (@sapphicgeek) December 3, 2016
@sapphicgeek After a minute or so, everything clicks. I'm staring down a crying baby gay. One who was having some big issues.
— 🌈Mary🌈 (@sapphicgeek) December 3, 2016
@sapphicgeek I tell her that it was hard for me when I wanted to come out too. She finally stops crying and asks me if it gets easier.
— 🌈Mary🌈 (@sapphicgeek) December 3, 2016
@sapphicgeek We sit at the coffee bar and talked for a while. She tells me that after seeing it all over Tumblr she binged SG.
— 🌈Mary🌈 (@sapphicgeek) December 3, 2016
@sapphicgeek And when she got to Alex's coming out arc was when things hit her.
— 🌈Mary🌈 (@sapphicgeek) December 3, 2016
@sapphicgeek She tells me that she's just wanted to kill herself for so long and that she had tried but just made herself sick.
— 🌈Mary🌈 (@sapphicgeek) December 3, 2016
@sapphicgeek But as Alex's arc continued she said she realized that she started to see that she could be happy, that she could be loved.
— 🌈Mary🌈 (@sapphicgeek) December 3, 2016
@sapphicgeek She didn't want to die anymore. For the first time, she didn't want to die because she got to see Alex be amazing and be queer.
— 🌈Mary🌈 (@sapphicgeek) December 3, 2016
@sapphicgeek She said she came to the store hoping to find something to get her through the hiatus, so she wouldn't fall back in depression.
— 🌈Mary🌈 (@sapphicgeek) December 3, 2016
@sapphicgeek She had no idea gay comic characters were a thing, but wanted to try. I tell her about Batwoman, Midnighter, and Renee Montoya.
— 🌈Mary🌈 (@sapphicgeek) December 3, 2016
@sapphicgeek I pull out my starters which are Batwoman: Elegy, Midnighter, and Gotham Central.
— 🌈Mary🌈 (@sapphicgeek) December 3, 2016
@sapphicgeek I also dug up a copy of the Adventures of Supergirl, just to get her through. Lol.
— 🌈Mary🌈 (@sapphicgeek) December 3, 2016
@sapphicgeek She had enough cash for one and was torn on which to get. She decides on Batwoman and asks if I can hold the rest for a while.
— 🌈Mary🌈 (@sapphicgeek) December 3, 2016
@sapphicgeek I was having an internal crisis at that time, because this kid was me years ago. I was barely holding off my own tears.
— 🌈Mary🌈 (@sapphicgeek) December 3, 2016
@sapphicgeek I ended up buying the other 3 for her and I make her promise me that in 10 years she'll help another queer kid.
— 🌈Mary🌈 (@sapphicgeek) December 3, 2016
@sapphicgeek So, @TheCWSupergirl @SupergirlStaff @chy_leigh and @florianalima the work you do means so much to us. Thank you. So, so, much.
— 🌈Mary🌈 (@sapphicgeek) December 3, 2016
Batwoman saved me years ago. I found her in 2006 and I have never stopped taking strength from her. I am here today because of that strength
— 🌈Mary🌈 (@sapphicgeek) December 3, 2016
Thank you to everyone for your kind words and offers of support. I only did what I wish someone would have done for me at that age.
— 🌈Mary🌈 (@sapphicgeek) December 4, 2016
I would like to encourage everyone to please donate to Equality Florida. They're doing the really amazing stuff.
— 🌈Mary🌈 (@sapphicgeek) December 4, 2016
In times like these, it's easy to feel overwhelmed and hopeless. But let us remember that no matter who's in the White House, each of us gets to decide every day who we choose to be. Choose to be a helper. Choose to keep your eyes open to those who need a shoulder to cry on, or a supporter to buy them comics.
In comments, tell us what media you'd recommend for baby gays struggling. My pick: Steven Universe.
