FF: You’ve spoken about coming out to your parents when you were growing up. What was that like? Did you feel like you had any expectations to live up to?
NC: It was actually pretty easy. Both of my parents said if you’re gay it’s okay. Both me and my older brother are queer, but I came out before him!
When I was in 8th grade, I was at an honors choir concert and my mom was driving me home and she asked me. At first I said no, but when we got home I said yes. She said she always wanted a gay best friend she was really supportive about it. I never came out to my dad but he kind of just knew and he's been super supportive and great as well.
I had always just been myself and I've always been crazy “Naterator,” as my parents call me. I've always gone to the beat of my own drum and wasn't really afraid of how people looked at me.
But I internalized my coming out and obviously it was a hard thing. That’s where the mental health issues spawned. You have to keep this huge secret that could just totally be the end of you.