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From: Dana Lebovic Graduate Student Kean University
Date: 13 Oct 2012
Time: 17:53:37 -0500
Remote Name: 24.0.95.103
I think the metaphor of "coming out" of the closet and relating it to covert stutterers was interesting, and definitely caught my eye as the first article I read. For the gay community, as well as individuals who stutter covertly, it is the fear of how society will react to their reveal. Deciding to come out can be a stressful experience; if they choose to, the person normally confides in someone they have an emotionally close relationship with. The article spoke about revealing yourself in certain situations, but not in other situations. As a current graduate student, I attended a National Stuttering Association meeting. During the meeting, there were a few individuals who covertly stuttered. They said how they openly stutter around their friends and family because they do not feel as though they are being judged. One of my best friends is gay. Although he is generally open with his sexuality, he only reveals this information to those he feels he can trust and will not be judged by. I can definitely see the comparison. The big fear is acceptance. Although I do not stutter, I feel like every one is different, and we should embrace that.