For Pride Month: Wise Words from Harvey Milk

“Every gay person must come out. As difficult as it is, you must tell your immediate family. You must tell your relatives. You must tell your friends if indeed they are your friends. You must tell the people you work with. You must tell the people in the stores you shop in. Once they realize that we are indeed their children, that we are indeed everywhere, every myth, every lie, every innuendo will be destroyed once and for all. And once you do, you will feel so much better.”
― Harvey Milk

I think what Harvey Milk is saying is that by being honest about who we are, we move forward in eradicating the hate and fear that keeps us in the closet ("once they realize we are indeed their children").

I think that's the goal: if people see that being gay is just another variation on the human theme and not something to be hated, ridiculed, reviled, feared, or ashamed of, then we can wipe out the fear that keeps us hiding in the shadows in shame and in fear of what might happen if we are our true selves. It's lofty, I know, but by maintaining the status quo and hiding, we'll never move forward, never gain acceptance or equality.

And I don't think the quote encourages people to come out when they're not ready. It's just saying it's the right thing to do eventually for the betterment of everyone, especially the person in the closet.