Discovering Late-Life Lesbianism With Melisa Raney

Full Circle: Finding Your Way Home

For some people, coming out as LGBTQ is easy – they’re comfortable with their identity and sexuality, and may have a supportive network. And sometimes it’s downright messy – they’re older, married with kids, or simply unable to accept their truth. Whatever the case may be - coming out can be difficult, confusing and painful.

My next guest is Melisa Raney - a mother and advocate for coming out. At 36, Melisa slowly began to question her sexuality. The problem was, she was in a heterosexual marriage, raising their two young children. Today, she is making, what she calls, her ‘mess’ her message: sharing her experience to guide others through the difficult process of coming out later in life.

It is no easy feat, but as Melisa teaches us: when you live your life authentically, you begin to live your life unapologetically.

Quotes

“I was following what was expected of me: go to school, go to college, meet the boy and get married…” [3:50]

“I had misread my own sexuality.” [4:20]

“It made me feel so validated; what I was feeling was real” [10:00]

“I was trying to fit in this box that society had created for me…” [11:22]

“I was happy in my marriage but I wasn’t fulfilled.” [24:30]

Notes

• Melisa’s background [2:40]

• Melisa’s experience of coming out [5:20]

• How Melisa’s family took her news [7:40]

• How Melisa handled her new life and her children [13:20]

• Melisa’s work [18:56]

• Why people don’t own their sexuality [23:30]

• How Melisa has changed [25:25]

• Lessons learned [28:12]

• Closing thoughts [31:40]

Gillian Socials

https://fullcircleglobal.com

https://www.instagram.com/the.master.coach/

https://www.facebook.com/GillianMcMichaelMasterCoach

https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillian-mcmichael/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/full-circle-development-consultancy/

https://www.facebook.com/fullcircleglobal/

Melisa Socials

https://www.instagram.com/lesbianchronicles/?hl=en

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lesbian-chronicles-coming-out-later-in-life/id1468550568

https://www.melisaraney.com

https://www.instagram.com/melisawrites/?hl=en