"When I was about 17 or 18, I finally admitted to myself that I wasn't going to change. I didn't know what the consequences would be, but I had the definite feeling that it was going to wreck my Disney career"

This quote by Tommy Kirk shows his experience of coming to terms with his sexuality. At the age of 17 or 18, he finally accepted that he was not going to change which his sexuality was not something he might alter. He was aware that this would have consequences, but he was certain that it would have a negative influence on his profession at Disney. This quote speaks to the battles of coming out and the fear of the unidentified that includes it. It likewise highlights the discrimination that LGBTQ+ individuals dealt with in the past, and still deal with today. Tommy Kirk's quote is a tip of the courage it requires real to oneself, even when it indicates dealing with prospective consequences.