user: Q: One simple way to be openly gay is to refuse false labels. People who do not know your orientation or who refuse to accept it may refer to you as straight. Gently and firmly correct them. If they say, "Sondra is going to make some lucky man very happy someday," you can counter with, "I'm not attracted to men, actually. I might make some lucky woman very happy someday, though!" Be open about your relationships. Do not let people refer to your partner as your "friend." Say, "Ben is my best friend in the world, but he's my partner of four years. Please refer to him as my partner or my boyfriend." If your family members or close friends are engaging you on the topic but still have reservations, go ahead and argue with them. Listen to them respectfully, and ask them to do the same for you.  If they say you're confused, rebelling, or have "chosen" to identify as gay, all you can do is say that you understand why they think that, but it's not true. Tell them they have to trust you. If they say you are sinning, you can explain why you think you aren't, but acknowledge that it is not for you or them to judge. If your family is worried that gay love is a sin, it's up to you how much you care to share with them. You don't have to say anything at all. If you are only planning on having sex within the bounds of marriage, or remaining abstinent altogether, you can offer that up as a kind of chastity the Bible supports. If you aren't, point out that the Bible is against all sorts of lust, and doesn't really account for most contemporary partnerships. Don't get sucked into endless arguments about the Bible and gay love with anyone who harasses you. You don't have to defend your orientation: you are who you are. While interpretation of the Bible varies over time and between denominations, many Christians rely on a few short passages to condemn gay people. You may want to point out the many passage of the Bible we don't follow to the letter, or you may want to engage them on the interpretation of the passages in question.  Remind them that Genesis 19 is about the gang-rape of angels, and actual gay people are never mentioned in connection to Sodom. Point out that Romans 1:26-27 and Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 are about teaching against worship of false gods, and that context may explain the language about gay sex. If they bring up I Corinthians 6:9 or I Timothy 1:10, tell them the translation of the Greek words "malakos" and "arsenokoites" as "gay" is controversial, as that meaning was rare when the words were most common. Being a gay Christian can feel like enough work on its own. You may feel excluded from the broader LGBTQ community, or like your concerns aren't shared by many gay people. Learn to accept that you are a part of the broader queer community, and do your best to have empathy, compassion, and understanding of the diversity of concerns that encompasses.  Don't be shy about your faith around other LGBTQ people. Remember, half of them are Christians, and a lot of the rest practice other faiths, are spiritual, or love people who are religious. Accept and affirm transgender individuals. They are the most vulnerable portion of the LGBTQ population. Apply intersectional thinking to your activism. As a gay Christian, you understand that no single identity category suffices to define one's position in the world. Consider the unique positions of LGBTQ people who are people of color, who are disabled, who are first-generation college students, who are refugees…
A: Assert your identity. Argue if it feels worth it. Counter Biblical arguments. Be a good ally.

Q: While military personnel are by no means considered above regular civilians, it is a means to an end. In the military, you'll get training experience (both physical and mental) and have the opportunity to work with aircraft. Bonus and bonus. NASA will give military personnel contracted appointments. They apply and work through a military program that regular citizens do not. Note that civilians of the US must submit an application through www.usajobs.gov, and all active duty military personnel must submit an application to their respective service (in addition to the website application). The last round of hiring ESA did for astronauts was in 2009. If you'd like to see how you would've fared, tests are available online. As for NASA, they had their latest round training in Houston as of June 2013. Keep an ear to the ground for the next hiring round! For NASA, training will take place in Texas and will last about 2 years. The ESA will put you through a similar program in Cologne, Germany for 16 months. You'll be working underwater and in simulators in addition to studying space relations and the science behind the technology. There's a heavy emphasis on human mechanics, engineering, and astronomy as well. Both programs will also immerse you in the Russian language. As for NASA, civilians who complete the training must remain a NASA employee for 5 years before becoming an astronaut. Military personal will be assigned to a specific NASA duty.
A:

assistant: Consider joining the military. Apply for the job. Be able to complete training.