Braunwyn Windham-Burke Comes Out as a Lesbian: "It Feels So Good to Be Living My Truth"
The RHOC cast member opened up about navigating her new relationship and her marriage, and how her sobriety journey influenced her decision to come out.
Braunwyn Windham-Burke has come out as a lesbian in a moving interview with GLAAD.
“I’m still getting used to it. I knew I was attracted to women. I always have been. I got married very young, and I never thought about It,” explained The Real Housewives of Orange County cast member. “I’m just now starting to feel like I’m becoming the woman I was supposed to be. So for me to be living completely authentically and say, ‘I’m a lesbian. That was who I have always been.’ This isn’t something that is new, ‘cause that I think is what a lot of people will think. ‘Oh, suddenly you’re one.’ No. I’ve always known it. But it took me personally 42 years to be comfortable enough in my own skin to say that.”
Braunwyn also opened up about her sexuality in an Instagram post, writing, “It feels so good to finally be living my truth. I am a lesbian. At 43 years old, I’ve finally been able to access this part of myself and I’ve realized there are no rules about when someone should come out. This is my time.”
During the GLAAD interview, Braunwyn opened up about her new relationship and how she is planning to navigate her marriage with husband Sean Burke.
“We are in uncharted territory. I don’t have a role model for this. I don’t have anyone to go to for answers,” she explained. “Sean and I are still married. I plan on staying married… We’re raising the kids together. He’s my best friend. He knows the girl I’m dating. Her name is Kris. I mean, we go to parties together! She came over the other night, hung out with the family, had dinner with us. I mean, it’s only as weird as you make it.”
Braunwyn went on to explain how her sobriety and coming out journeys are related.
“I know that when you get sober and you start doing the work that goes into that, you start realizing a lot of the reasons you drank had to do with who you were on the inside,” Braunwyn said. “This sort of became something that I didn’t want to hide anymore, and I didn’t want to keep a secret anymore. I wanna be able to go out to dinner with whoever I want without judgment. You know, as long as my husband was OK and the person I was dating was OK and knows everything. I didn’t wanna have to hide this anymore.”
