Early this week, I got an email suggesting that I read Josh Weed's blog post where he comes out to the world... and likens it to being a unicorn. (If you want to read it, just Google it. Finding it that way ensures that his post stays high in the search rankings.) I read it, thought it was well written, left a comment, and went on with life.

Since then, I've gotten another 40 emails insisting that I read his story... and some are even arriving in my real-life inbox. Intrigued by the onslaught, I went back to the post and saw his comment total - over 2000 (his comments are unmoderated - moderating that would be a nightmare). A quick search of press sites confirmed what I had thought: his post had gone viral.

To be honest, I have mixed emotions. Part of me is curious. The curious part is me wondering how a single post can tip the scales and hit Facebook, Twitter, and people with such force that it appears overnight in liberal and gay press sites with an outstanding reach. I haven't really seen this before... and there have been a lot of coming out stories, even some like Josh's, since I began blogging. And with the exception of one, two years ago, none of my posts have gone viral. Few stories have had this type of impact.

And I wonder... was it just that Josh had a larger base of readers? Or was better connected through social media (Facebook) than other sites that have tried to accomplish the same goal? Was it the story itself - coming out after ten years of blissful marriage? His writing style? The timing? The mixture of novel and sincere and compelling and unique? Or something I'm totally missing? I obviously analyze things a lot... it definitely intrigues me.

I'm also wondering how long this story will last in the media, and how it will change his blog, and approach, over time. Is Josh going to leverage the impact he has here and continue to post on or reference the topic... or will this post will be a one-hit wonder and his blog will "go back to being light-hearted?" He's already been a part of the community, as seen in his participation in Voices of Hope... and I wonder how much he will be involved to share the message... since people are listening.

The other part of me is thrilled. Recently I've been more conscious of the people that (G)MG doesn't reach... the people who have no connection to me or who I've somehow offended... and asked the Lord in prayer to help the people I can't. Josh's post, and its explosion on Facebook, was an answer to prayer... because, with his background and context, the message has traveled far more than it would have coming from a blog called (Gay) Mormon Guy. At least from reading the comment thread, people have been inspired, uplifted, and changed just from reading that one post... and that is awesome.
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