I Want the World to Know

This is Fernando Menjiva’s story about coming out to his parents. He posted this video on youtube on his 18th birthday on June 15, 2009. Though his family supports him, coming out to them was not easy. As the oldest son, he was expected to “protect” his sister. Also, because Fernando’s parents are divorced, he had to tell them separately. As a child, his father called him “Champion,” but his sister couldn’t pronounce the word and called him “Chappis” instead, which has been his nickname ever since. He has been video-blogging for four years and feels he has improved quite a bit over time. Please watch Fernando’s story. It is truly beautiful. His strength and courage are evident in his remarkable ability to be open about his sexuality at such a young age.