"There was another girl at school, and she got outed, and the other kids, including my friends, tortured her. So I hid. In college it was better. I had a serious girlfriend. It was wonderful, but I still had to hide. I couldn't bring her home, or talk about her, tell you how happy I was. I had to be miserable because I was happy. Do you know how sick that is? What it does to you? And then I had to hide again, because if you're a nanny, even a rumor you're gay and you'd be out on the street, never work again.

"But now, I'm happy again. Happier...