Every so often, I think of Dr. Oliver Sacks who sadly spent nearly his entire 82 year closeted, most of those years celibate out of fear or shame. Only in the twilight of his life did he engage in a romantic partnership. He only revealed his orientation in the final months of his life with terminal cancer.

It was in a podcast (IIRC Radiolab) that I heard his story.

https://radiolab.org/podcast/b85241b89f5bfe98e2f27fd2

#OliverSacks #GayPride

Oliver Sacks

What's it like to go inside the mind of a person you admire? A person who inspires you? This week, a tribute to neurologist, writer and long time friend of the show, Oliver Sacks. Fir...

Radiolab Podcasts | WNYC Studios

It's sad that he spent so much of his life concealing homosexuality and unable to express that part of his humanity, but at least he was able to live as his true self for a few years. That's more than nothing.

Listening to his story, it reminds me that being vocal in our advocacy can save someone this fate.