Story:

I think always knew I was gay somehow. I’ve been out since I was 15, all my friends knew, people from school, my family knew even though I haven’t actually told them yet. I thought I was completely open, and I felt like I was just a normal guy who happens to feel attracted to other guys.

It was 2013, the year of the homophobic marriage referendum in Croatia. It took all the bad stuff out, the majority hated the minority, didn’t want them to share the same rights. Even though you were just a “regular guy who happens to be into guys” not flashy or GAY, it wasn’t good enough.

A group of activists were taking pictures of people holding a sign in support of the campaign against the referendum. I stopped, took the picture, and when they asked why I said because I don’t want my rights to be curtailed. I didn’t think much of it back then, but looking at the picture now 10 years later, I realize that something started back then. My second coming out, realizing you don’t have to “be normal” to be accepted.

Learning you can’t just keep it to yourself, and people won’t mind. I finally understood that you must live your life true to yourself. It allowed me to rethink my identity, to think about my auto homophobia, and it started my journey as an activist.