How did you come out to your parents?
I was 18. I told them to their faces on separate occasions.
What did you say?
First of all... let me just say I've been raised in a very open-minded family. I have a gay aunt who has been with her partner for years (the two even have a 12-year-old daughter). I've been raised to follow my heart... so I wasn't afraid to come out, though I was a bit nervous ANYWAY.
The conversation with my mother went thus:
Me: "Mom... um... I'm gay."
Mom: "Oh. That's nice, dear."
Me: "Are you OK with it?"
Mom: "Of course, darling, I love you. You are my dear, my love, my life."
My conversation with my dad just about made my brain implode.
Me (in car, with Dad): "Dad... *deep breath*... is it obvious that I'm gay?" (people had been telling me that I was gay the entire week... I'd barely come out to my best friend at the time.)
Dad: "Not really... I wouldn't say "obvious". Why?"
Me: "Just... 'cause I am. Gay."
Dad: "I don't have a problem with it."
*Pause*
Dad: "You know, I was ambiguous about my sexuality when I was your age."
Me: O____o yay?
I love my parents. SO much.
Advice
- Everything went well... my whole family is very supportive as a rule to life. I don't think I'd do anything differently at all. I remain close to my parents, and they've met the women I've been interested in, because their opinions matter to me... also, my dad and I (scarily) have the same taste in women, so it makes watching TV together quite amusing. However, I know that I'm one of the lucky ones. I wouldn't suggest coming out as I did (because I was kind of glib about it) unless you have a very open family like mine.
