By Jeff Walsh

It happens in an instant. That moment of recognition. Before it, you may have been confused, questioning, and unsure about who you are... but afterward, you may have still had questions... but you knew what the deal was.

There's just that "Moment You Knew," where life changes.

For some people, it was less dramatic. They always knew, it just eventually got a name. For others, it is a longer journey.

But however you get there, it is still something that changes you life forever. There will always be life before that moment, and life after it. It is "The Moment You Knew..."

My story: My entire coming out happened online. My gay community was online. When my modem was occupying the phone line, I was connected. When I logged off, I was alone. What is often taken for granted today is still something I remember not existing.

When I first America Online, it was not to explore my sexuality. It was for "research." At the time I was writing a screenplay and there was a gay teen character in it. Since, I wasn't gay, I figured using some of the trial memberships online would let me talk to gay teens to help develop the character. I was in my early 20s at this time.

I got into some of the gay teen chat rooms, identified myself as a straight screenwriter, and said I needed their help to tell my story. One of the guys I chatted with ended up being my first online boyfriend.

Wow, not really finding my groove here out in the suburbs. Oddly enough, though, the stuff I'm not finding time to do is the stuff I thought would be the majority of my time (watching DVDs, seeing movies, etc.).