"I was never not out. I never denied who I was. I just never shared my story publicly until now," Raymond Gutierrez posted a few hours after he shared his latest cover story with Mega Entertainment about him "coming out."
He reveals more in his recent post, sharing that he had his fair share of challenges in search of who he was. "Growing up, it took a while for me to face my true identity, and figuring it out wasn’t easy." Being part of a family with famous celebrities put pressure on him, "I went through a long period of time hating myself because society taught me that being different wasn’t the right path, especially for someone growing up in the public eye."
There was even a time when he though of escaping from the truth, "I went through a dark phase of self destruction—creating unhealthy habits to have some sort of escape so I didn’t have to face my reality. I kept things to myself because I was scared to bring shame to my family, and didn’t know how others would treat me."
With everything that he has been through, he found comfort in his circle of friends, "I’m thankful to those close to me—my friends and family for giving me the confidence to embrace myself fully without judgement. I consider myself lucky because some people don’t have a support system they can run to, which is exactly why I’m sharing my story now."
And why did he decided to "come out" now? "If there’s one thing I learned this past year and a half is that life is fleeting. I want to encourage those who feel alone that it’s never too late to love yourself, acknowledge those feelings and face your fears —because it feels damn good to be on the other side."
He ends the heartwarming post by reminding that sexuality doesn't define us. "It should never hinder your greatness," he says. In fact, aware of both his masculine and feminine sides have been an advantage for him. "It pushed boundaries creatively and create magic with the projects I do."
To those who were quick to say that they knew Raymond was part of the LGBT a long time ago, Raymond has this to say, "You never knew my story and my struggles." As for those who feel like they're alone and lost, "I want to let you know that I went through the same things—you will be loved, your feelings are valid, and those who truly love you will stick around."