My Coming Out Story

[@MattMoore83]

I can relate to the feeling of "being wrong and need fixed" stuff and use to pray the gay away. I grew up in the rural community and being gay/bi "did not exist" and I had no one to go to for support because everyone was homophobic. I felt like a fish out of water. I just wish society knew the the damage it can do to a person. This stuff we battle can be life long.

[@ginadevenish6113]

Such a moving story. Although, it broke my heart to hear that you don’t have a relationship with your parents. I’m glad that you do have a support system and people you can call your family. I really hope you continue making videos. I discovered your videos a few months ago when I was looking for new ways to work out and I fell in love with them. I’ve done almost every single dance combo and I’ve started doing your 10 minute workouts. I hope making those videos brings you as much joy as your fans get from watching them and dancing with you.

[@JosephCorella]

I love creating content on my channel! ;) Movement and creating has always been such a safe and healing thing for me. Thank you for all your support!

[@geoffdavies4716]

I am a carer for a lady 93 years of age, she is a staunch Roman Catholic and I am Church of England. Just thinking of what you were saying about "the church". When I told Edie that I was gay and had a husband her reply was "So that's ok not a problem, God doesn't make mistakes" that really said so much more than anything anybody had ever said when I've told them, especially coming from an RC of her age group. Keep on living and loving your life. Best wishes Geoff xx UK

[@susanwindiarinirodgers1269]

Thank you for making this video joseph. I'm actually a depressed closeted (only from my mother) 21 year old queer right now. I am lucky to have many many people on my side to get me through this time, though it's been really freakin hard. I'm so glad I found your channel. Your videos are such a great source of endorphins XD

[@JosephCorella]

I am beyond grateful you have many people to help support you! You are not alone and I know you will find your way. Keep listening to your heart. It will guide you. ;)

[@joelevitt7731]

Thanks Joseph, you were so kind about my story from Australia and I’ll always remember that. You’re a sweet, sensitive soul and I’m grateful to have seen this beautiful story. Also love the dance videos! ❤️

[@JosephCorella]

Joe! Thank you for your support! I'm grateful I got to hear your incredible story. Sharing our stories is so important. Sending lots of love to you in Australia!

[@fw5264]

Joseph, thank you for your courageous, moving, and kind video. This will be a powerful beacon of hope for young people who are struggling with hate- and fear-filled messages from their families and their churches. I am a practicing Christian and I totally respect the hard choices that you have made about how to express and live out your deep spirituality. Thank you very much.

[@JosephCorella]

Thank your kind words and support. Means a lot to me. :)

[@Cris-db8iy]

You're one of the most inspiritual artist, When I see your work, I think that your whole life was happiness and success, but I remember that we are part of a community that has had to be vulnerable at some point in life, so I look forward to this testimony. Greetings from Peru.

[@JosephCorella]

Thank you, Cris! I'm glad I finally sat down to make this video. Thank you for all your support!

[@purplehaazebee1649]

I am so amazed and moved by your story. Thank you for sharing. I totally understand the depression at the age of 21. I moved back home from NYC after I graduated from theatre school. I slept constantly and finding local community theatre has been my saving grace. I also want to thank you for helping get back to my passion of performing during lockdown. I wish you and Johnathan all the best in your journey. Happy holidays. ❤

[@JosephCorella]

We are on this journey together! Beyond grateful our paths have crossed in this life. Keep on dancing!

[@theo.barcelona]

You are Very brave !!! Thanks for sharing !!! I still don’t have the courage to come out after watching so many come-out videos :(

[@JosephCorella]

It truly is something each individual has to do at the right time for their life. That's why I felt it important to share my journey with it all. Sending you lots of love on your journey! Just remember, you are strong and powerful.

[@tryan7]

Your a fine young man. How could any parent abandon their child? I'm glad you found 😊 happiness. I wish you and your husband the very best in life. Take care and stay well.

[@fumarate1]

I went through years of depression and anxiety when I was coming to term with my sexuality as well turned to drugs couldn't hold onto a job ended up with mental illness along with a fried brain from 10 years of meth use,things are getting better now.

[@benthic40]

You are such an amazing, strong human and it's beautiful that you've created this lovely life and family for yourself out of the journey you had to take. Thank you for being so open and compassionate with sharing your story and offering support to others! ❤️❤️

[@JosephCorella]

Thank you, Katelyn! Your kind words means a lot to me. Sending lots of love your way!

[@benthic40]

@@JosephCorella And back at you! 💕

[@TheGoldenLady15]

Thank you so much for your bravery and speaking your truth in sharing this story. Never hide your light. Sending love and good wishes 💛✨

[@JosephCorella]

Thank you! Means a lot to me!

[@Motivious]

You are so powerful, Joseph! Thank you for sharing your story and being the voice so many people need to hear.

[@JosephCorella]

Nick! Thank you so much! Means a lot to me.

[@lionfish2201]

Your videos have always felt like a modern day Richard Simmons- filled with such enthusiastic support and earnest love. Thank you for keeping your heart open in a world that would easily encourage you to shut it down and protect it. Your love and joy in your videos have helped my journey of moving more, and I am certain it has touched so many others. 💜

[@JosephCorella]

Richard has always been a role model for me! Thank you for message and support!

[@burningtreestories]

Thanks for your story, Joseph. And thanks for bringing the healing and wonder of dance to so many people around the world. Hearing your story adds a moving depth to the fun and joy of dancing with you - on Zoom, but still dancing with you and all the other wonderful folks in your dance fam. Big hugs.

[@JosephCorella]

Each one of us has a story to share about our journey here on earth. ;) It was time to finally share about this specific experience in my life. Hope it can help someone out there that might be experiencing the same thing. Thank you for all your support!

[@lexiem3327]

Awww Joseph, it's good to learn more about you. I'm sorry to hear about the challenges you've had to face. You are such an inspiration to us. I always get so sad when I hear about the church pushing people away. Jesus himself had a hard time with the church. God is love. And you are loved. You've helped me on some very down days during this pandemic, I only wish I could send you back positive vibes when you need it! So here's some love coming your way from Australia! ❤️

[@JosephCorella]

Thank you for all your support and love, Lexie! Keep on dancing and listening to your heart. :)

[@ilmagicomondodimia7371]

LOVE THIS! Thank you for sharing this

[@JosephCorella]

Thank you for your support!

[@saradevane9681]

I love you Joe!!! Thank you for being brave and honest and sharing your truth and your story! No judgement here, not in middle school, not in high school and not now! So proud of living your truth! Love to you and Jonathan!

[@JosephCorella]

Thanks, Sara!! You have always been so kind and supportive. Thank you! Sending you and your family so much love!

[@tomyoung2935]

You seem . Like such a strong person. I can identify with a lot of your problems. Thanks for sharing the painful parts of your life. Your parents not accepting you and your lifestyle which is one in the same is so wrong. . You are who you are supposed to be. Live your true life and if your parents do not accept you it is their loss. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@JosephCorella]

Thanks Tom! Sending you lots of love on your journey!

[@4nshale]

Great video! I am glad that you are in better place in your life.

[@heathercruice9993]

Thank you so much for posting !! Have just adored you since THS dance days and am so thankful you exist! I survived high school masking as a straight girl and was honestly so fearful about coming out as bisexual to my family until RECENTLY! … I wasn’t gentle about coming out at all- I found my person and married her and FINALLY gave myself permission to live life on my own terms. My family doesn’t like it , but they don’t have to… lots of therapy and learning to love and accept ME for ME… Be free , be loved , be YOU ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜 The world needs you.

[@JosephCorella]

Heather, thank you! I had no clue and this is why it's so important to share our journey. I love what you said about "Be free , be loved , be YOU ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜!" I need that on a t-shirt. ;) Sending you so much love and hope our paths cross again soon!

[@ramandeepnijjar8281]

Thank you for being so brave and honest! That took real strength! You are such an inspiration to so many of us. You are such an incredible and positive person. Thank you for being such a bright light when sometimes it seems the world is covered in darkness!

[@JosephCorella]

Thank you for all your support! Means a lot to me. Together we shine brighter!

[@ersonthemesa]

Excellent heart felt video, Joseph .

[@JosephCorella]

Thank you, Bill!

[@salaamsage1592]

Thank you for sharing this. It is going to take time for policy makers and administrators of institutions to realize that LGBTQ+ people have a harder time in life than other groups of people, therefore the need to prioritize us in everything. The psychological trauma is unmatched. I have always received full support of my parents, and am still in touch with them. That hasn't made my experiences or life easier. I still have days when I question my sanity and if I should be alive. But stories like yours contribute to creating that visibility.

[@JosephCorella]

Absolutely! We are in this together. One foot in front of the other. ;)

[@wflutengogendoge]

Thank you so much for sharing your story. I live in MA and, with this being one of the most accepting states, I forget about the true struggle that does occur throughout the nation (and here). I just hope that we keep moving forward and that no individual will have to feel ashamed of who they are. Thank you so much again for sharing your story- you are an amazing inspiration and I absolutely love your dance videos! Those have been the saving grace of my life since my friend told me about them. Stay strong

[@JosephCorella]

Thank you, Stephanie! Support likes yours is what will help change things. Beyond grateful!

[@CCGR-2024]

Great video and you were very moving. Thank you for sharing your truth with us and know that you helped me cope with my life today.

[@JosephCorella]

Thank you, Mark! Glad you connected to it! You are not alone.

[@jeresitkosanfrancisco8370]

Sending love to you and your husband.

[@learleanatrimmer2892]

I Was Also The Victim Of Bullying Growing Up As Well, I Was Never In A Safe Space Where I Could Just Be Myself And Be Free, I Struggled With Depression And Eventually Tried To End My Life, I Felt Like I Was All Alone Going Through That, Despite Knowing I Wasn't, I To Had To Switch Schools, There Was Never Anything Done About The Bullying, I Was Told To Just Suck It Up And Deal With It, And To Just Ignore The Bullies, I Came So Close To Dropping Out Of School, I Never Went To College Because Of It, It Was Very Traumatizing, I Was Already Going Through Alot At Home, I Saw Suicide As My Only Option, If It Wasn't For My Best Friend, I Would Be Dead, I Never Understood And Still Don't Understand Why I Was Bullied, I Didn't Really Bother Anybody, And It Makes Me So Mad, So Many Young Lives Are Lost Because Of Bullying, And These School Really Need To Step Up And Do Better About That Kind Of Stuff, Bullying Is Not OK 😔😔😠😠😡😡😤😤

[@JosephCorella]

Thank you for sharing your truth and I am beyond grateful you are still here. Schools do need to do more to protect the LGBTQ community. Let's continue to find ways to help the next generation and protect them.

[@chrisyoung3082]

Sending love your way .... ❤

[@JosephCorella]

Thank you, Chris! Same to you!

[@TheIntrovert83]

Born in 83 I grew up in the church. I was a lesbian but was desperately trying to force myself to be straight because as you know being gay in the 90s was social suicide! Battling addictions and Social Anxiety I thought I'd never come out! Now I live in my truth but for almost 10yrs I was closeted and it was Hell on Earth! So glad I get to be me now and IDGAF if people accept me or not! 🙏🌈

[@JosephCorella]

I am so grateful you are living life as YOU! Sending all the rainbow love your way!

[@koholohan3478]

UNCONDITIONAL♡

[@marcelofg1119]

Luckily my upbringing didn't have that religious component, we're Catholic but go to church was a rare thing but suffered all those basics, you've got to play football(soccer), ballet is only for girls, "but dad there's a boy there, yes but you're not him", don't cross your legs or arms and a long list of dos and don'ts. And different from most people I had never been bullied at school probably because I was always the best student in class, it shielded me I guess. Instead I was permanently attacked verbally at home by my brothers and my mother never bother to stop them. My father was a workaholic was unaware of it and I never said anything to him because I was ashamed. My hell continued up to when I was 24 when I decided to pack and go and live my truly me by that time I was ready to loose my family for good, I couldn't be unhappy to please them. I moved country in less than a year I met the love of my life we're celebrating our 28th anniversary this year. My whole husband's big family is incredibly supportive and with my family I'm still not and will never be 100% me.

[@janiselmeris5705]

Why did you say your first relationship was toxic?

[@calvind2054]

So your an only child? You didn’t mention having to Come Out to any siblings.

[@seamuslyte]

👏♥️

[@JosephCorella]

Thanks Seamus!

[@cordy6890]

In am sure you have families all over the World to welcome you. You are welcome in my family if you need a mom dad brothers - you are always welcome 🙋 come over to Germany. In some cases Friends are gods apology for the family you are born in and the offer to choose a new 🤗

[@JosephCorella]

I am ready to come to Germany right now! lol! Grateful for all the support! Means a lot to me.

[@edjarrett3164]

I’m sad that the Church didn’t embrace you for who you are. I think a Church that embraces all their flock will flourish. In today’s world, coming out shouldn’t be an event. I came out when the cost of doing so no longer mattered. I was in the military and told family and friends as the don’t ask don’t tell policy died. Lot of gay folks in the military then and now. The silly part was the public lack of acknowledgement that we’ve always been there. At least much of the hostility is finally gone.

[@JosephCorella]

Glad it went well for you! We've come a long way, but there's still a lot more work to be done to help protect the LGBTQ community here in the USA and around the world.