I had a former student come back to school that day to tell me he was proud of me and that he wished I had done this when he was in school. I had a player on the volleyball team, of which I am the coach, tell me I should have told the team sooner. Many more students approached me to confide that they too had a relative who is gay. I also had many colleagues approach me with similiar stories about gay relatives. One teacher had tears in her eyes when sharing with me the story of her son's friend who committed suicide when he told his parents he was gay.
Barriers break down from the moment a teacher does so.
My professional and personal life are so much more rewarding being open and honest.