I think it’s impossible to judge whether another person should come out. You just hope they will on their own time and their own terms.

King is emphasizing personal autonomy and safety in decisions about disclosing one’s sexual orientation. The quote rejects “outing” or pressuring others to disclose, noting that outsiders cannot fully know the risks—professional, familial, psychological, or physical—that someone may face. It also frames coming out not as a single public act but as a choice that should be made voluntarily, at a pace and in a manner that fits the individual. Given King’s prominence as an athlete who later spoke openly about her own sexuality and LGBTQ+ equality, the statement underscores an ethic of empathy: support people, create conditions where disclosure is safer, but don’t demand it.