In a landmark move, a local shack has come out as gay.
The building, which has been a fixture in the Delaware community for years, says it felt Pride Month was the right time to share its truth with the world.
“I’m more than wood and concrete,” Gay Shack said. “I’m gay wood and concrete.”
“I’ve put up this flag, pinwheels, and construction paper to show pride in my identity. I’m proud to be a gay structure.”
Gay Lawyer, a spokesman for the shack, announced the news on social media earlier today.
“The building located at 187 East William Street in Delaware, Ohio, is now a gay shack,” the statement read.
In a separate interview with Delaware Ohio News, Gay Shack shared what it was like coming up as a closeted gay building.
“It was tough pretending to be something I wasn’t,” Shack said. “There’s still a lot of homophobia in this town. I’ve been called names and had things thrown at me because I was different. Some kids threw a party inside of me once without my permission. So I always felt I had to hide who I was, or else it would be worse. It’s been hard, and it may get harder, but I would rather be rejected for who I am than continue living in fear.”
Many residents of Delaware were shocked by the news, but some say they had always suspected that the shack might be gay.
“I always thought there was something different about that shack,” said one resident, who wished to remain anonymous. “It’s just not like the other shacks around here.”
Some residents were upset over the building’s decision.
“I don’t care what a building does inside itself when people aren’t using it, but telling the whole world about it is inappropriate,” said another anonymous resident. “My kids don’t need to know whether a building is gay or not. I’m not sure anybody needs to know that.”
Others say it doesn’t change a thing.
“It doesn’t matter that it’s gay. We would have loved and accepted it regardless of what type of shack it was,” said neighbor and Lake Street resident Tina Sullivant. “Unless it was a rape shack, I guess. We generally have a problem with those.”
Before coming out as a gay shack, Gay Shack was known for being a shack, and before that, materials you could use to make a shack.
Gay Shack said it decided to come out now to be a role model for other closeted buildings. It is the first openly gay building in the state of Ohio.
“Now that I’m out and proud, I hope that other shacks struggling with their identity can see that it’s possible to live an authentic life. If I can come out, then anyone can,” Shack said. “I hope that by being open about my sexuality, I can help make the world more accepting of all buildings.”
The town’s LGBT community is celebrating the shack, which many call a symbol of progress.
Gay Lawyer said that he hopes this will start a conversation about acceptance and tolerance in the city.
“We need to remember that everyone should be free to be who they are,” Lawyer said. “And that includes queer shanties.”
