Taylor Byington believed that attending her Catholic high school’s senior retreat meant having to share bunk beds and eating gross dining hall food.  She had no idea that by the end of the first night there, she would be standing in front of her entire class and saying the words, “I am bisexual.”

Byington is currently a senior at Truman State University in Kirksville, MO.  She is majoring in creative writing and minoring in women and gender studies.  While she wants to tell stories one day right now she’s telling her own.

“I felt very confined to typical, traditional standards set by my strict, Catholic family.  So as you can imagine as a very open, growing girl, it was very difficult for me to keep such a big part of my identity a secret.  My parents always wanted my brother and I to have a Catholic education.  It was their main priority to provide us with that so I attended Catholic school for my entire life up until college.”

Byington’s secret was affecting her everyday life.  She felt as if she was not being true to herself.  It made her more distant and put stress on relationships with not only her family but her friends at school.  She knew that, one day, she would admit it out loud and finally share an aspect of herself that she had kept hidden for years.

“The juniors and seniors went on these religious retreats to bond as a class in a religious atmosphere.  On my senior class retreat, the opening activity of this 3-day 2-night stay was a ‘name one thing no one knows about you’ activity.  I remember turning to my best friends and I said to them ‘watch this,’ fully preparing myself for what was about to happen I was shaking and repeatedly asking them ‘should I actually do it?'”

Shaking and waiting for her turn to stand in front of the entire class, Byington remembers almost wanting to back out.  It was the thought of finally being able to share her whole self though, that overpowered her fear of being looked at any differently.

“I honestly wanted to vomit, but I have to credit this moment as the beginning of me developing into the super open and caring person that I am now.  I just got up there, shaking, near tears and I said something along the lines of, ‘So I finally feel ready to say this to all of you … I’m bisexual’ and then I got down from the podium.  I vaguely remember some applause, not a lot because I think some people were a little shocked or just generally surprised.”

Maria Spellmeyer and Julia Vance, former classmates of Byington, were in the audience when she decided to share her big secret.

“I wasn’t super shocked when she told everyone,” said Spellmeyer.  “I guess she just always seemed like the kind of person that could love anyone, regardless of gender.  She is a brave girl.  I figured she wouldn’t keep it a secret for long if she was bisexual.  She never really let what other people think stop her from being herself.”

Even though Byington was nervous about how the confession played out, she left a lot of people feeling inspired.

“I think that Taylor had to be pretty brave to say something so controversial, especially in the religious environment we were all in,” said Vance.  “The blatant honesty with oneself in front of a crowd of people, let alone peers, is the type of moment that leads a room to silence.  It was really refreshing to hear someone be so candid.  Personally, my image of Taylor did not change beyond the fact that I knew she was very true to the person she is.  I think that even though some might have judged, Taylor showed us that being who you are is more important.”

Many students and faculty were moved in that room by Byington’s sincere words. Even the most unlikely of people.

“In the midst of my worry and relief, I had several people write me notes about how my confidence increased after coming out and even the priest was intrigued about my sexual orientation and we discussed different personal aspects of that.  It was a fascinating conversation to have with a priest of all people,” said Byington

Byinton’s story is just one of many and she is now an advocate to all who might be nervous about being completely open with their sexuality.  She gained a freedom that she wishes all would one day be able to feel.