7:00
After school, you escape it all with TV shows, books, and your own imagination.
Mom asks, “how was school?”
You always say it was great.
You’ll spend years trying to be more “manly.”
You’ll work out for hours each day, you’ll style your hair differently, you’ll get braces to fix those teeth, and you’ll date brilliant, beautiful girls.
Hiding the truth won’t stop you professionally either: a once-in-a-lifetime scholarship at a TV station in Miami helps you become a TV producer and then a local news reporter.
But the truth about who you are is still itching to get out.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Gio Benitez (@giobenitez) on Feb 2, 2012 at 5:08am PST
I want to tell you: it will all be OK.
In fact, it’ll be more than OK. When you finally tell your mom your secret (at 24 years old) she will embrace you.
It takes her just 24 hours to understand what took you 24 years.
Though one friend warns, “you can’t be gay and successful in the media,” your colleagues will celebrate you.
What’s the big deal?, they’ll wonder, and send you on your next assignment.
And when ABC News calls to hire you, your colleagues there will celebrate you, too.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Gio Benitez (@giobenitez) on Aug 9, 2013 at 5:41pm PDT
In fact, when you get engaged and ultimately marry your husband, your colleagues will show your photos and congratulate you on America’s No. 1 morning show, \"Good Morning America.\"
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Gio Benitez (@giobenitez) on Mar 31, 2017 at 1:18pm PDT
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Gio Benitez (@giobenitez) on Apr 18, 2016 at 4:16pm PDT
You and your husband will be a trending topic on social media all around the world.
Kids struggling to understand themselves will write to you.
Their parents, transformed by the loving photos you share, will thank you.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Gio Benitez (@giobenitez) on Jun 13, 2019 at 5:57pm PDT
Don’t rush it, kid.
You don’t need to reveal your secret just yet, if you don’t want to.
You’re only 12.
Just know that you’re special, and someday you’ll feel that too, and everything will be OK.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Gio Benitez (@giobenitez) on Jun 30, 2019 at 4:21pm PDT
When you’re ready, start living your truth.
That’s when the magic happens.
With lots of love and tremendous pride,
-Gio (circa 2019)
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Gio Benitez (@giobenitez) on Aug 28, 2018 at 8:24am PDT
Gio Benitez is ABC News' transportation correspondent based in New York. He reports for all ABC News programs and platforms including “Good Morning America,” “World News Tonight with David Muir,” “Nightline” and “20/20.”
Editor's note: This was originally published on Oct. 11, 2019.
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