"Good for you."

When people "come out of the closet" as a homosexual or bisexual, the reaction usually is "Good for you!"

Why?

These are situations where I would say "Good for you!" -

"I got a B on a test in a subject that I struggle in!"
"I past my driving test!"
"I paid off all my debt!"
"I got a job after X number of interviews for various institutions!"
"My first book was published!"
"We had a baby!"
"I got an athletic scholarship!"
"I moved into my own apartment after living my with parents for several after college graduation!"
"I have good credit!"
"I eat a healthy, moderate diet!"
"I acknowledged my sins and faults and promise to be better in the future!"
"I went pee pee by myself!"

If someone "came out" to me I wouldn't say "Good for you!" That wouldn't even be in my thoughts. I'd be "Okay. How are you dealing with your sexuality? How are you feeling about it?"

This post is in response to entertainer Joel Grey "coming out" as gay. He was  married for about 24 years (now divorced) and within this marriage he had two children.

What's interesting is that people who responded to this are saying "Good for him!" How is this an accomplishment? What is there to celebrate? Is whatever pressure he is feeling somehow lifted? Does he feel any better telling the world? After his divorce did he indulge/engage in his sexuality? What I'm concerned about is this: Did he tell his ex-wife and kids?  

What's also interesting is the "I don't like labels" part. I do. Labels tell when my food is expired. My name is a label. Even "it" is a label. Everything that has a name is a label. Names are labels. Labels tell us information. If people ask about my sexuality I'll respond, if I feel like sharing, "I'm straight," not "Well, I don't like labels, but I'm straight." Or it's like me saying "I don't like called being a man. I'm a human being." I'd be a fool to even think of it that way.

I think this "no labels" also feeds into the "don't put me in a box" mentality, this "special snowflake" phenomenon that society has grown accustomed to. BUT the "no labels" is mostly used towards taboos that want to be normal, to shake of that taboo. BUT, in a way, actually makes one "special" - if we look at it that way.

"Good for you!", in this situation, is a false reason for congratulations. Was he a good father? Was he a decent man towards his wife? How did he treat his fans and others who may not share his social status? If "good" for any or all those, then "Good for him." Did he choose not to enter a same-sex relationship? If so, then "Good for him."