At the coven meeting last New Moon we were talking (among other things) about different ways to come out of the closet.

Well, there are ways and ways, including the Annunciation: “Mom, Dad, I'm....” The big problem with the Annunciation is that it's a set-up for confrontation.

As a storyteller I find that, increasingly, as I get older, my favorite way to come out is by Stealth.

“So, my boyfriend says to me....” “At the coven meeting the other night, we....”

I like the Stealth Method for a couple of reasons.

First, it's flattering. It says to the listener: I assume that you're intelligent enough to understand the implications of what I'm saying. The hearer may not like what she's hearing, but everyone likes to be presumed intelligent. It's hard to get upset when someone has just paid you a compliment.

Secondly, the Stealth method models behavior. It presents the assumption that what you're communicating is just another part of daily life and nothing to get terribly excited about: which has the advantage, as we know, of being both entirely true and entirely deceptive at the same time. (Ah, that Old Gray Magic.) After all, if the Craft and gay love (insofar as there's a difference between the two, anyway) aren't exciting, I don't know what is. After all these decades, I (at least) still find this to be so.

By stealth or by storm? It's up to you.

But, of course, as my husband was saying the other day.....