People can and do lose their jobs, homes and sometimes children over ENM. As long as there are no legal protections, we will always have to be extremely cautious who we tell.

I’m not afraid of this myself because of where and how I live, but I have a lot of privilege. I still don’t talk about it much, even with all my poly friends, because I’m a private person, and my relationships are no one’s business but the people in them.

I don’t believe in coming out because that assumes I was in the closet, or that there is something abnormal about what I’m doing that requires a special announcement and a plea for acceptance. Oh, no! I don’t ever explain or justify my life choices. I do not need others to accept me, or even know anything about me—even my family of origin. I just live my life openly, and if people notice something and ask curiously, I will answer. If they are rude, I’ll let them know they’re out of line and move on.

You were probably being facetious, but forcing your brother to read your blog, or trying to coerce anyone to accept you is a fool’s errand and a young person’s folly. If you have enough privilege to be out, just be out. You needn’t justify or explain yourself; it only reinforces the taboo by putting you on the defensive for something you needn’t defend at all.