Hello, The 4 people in my family who I was considering telling my truth have previously shown acceptance of LGBTQ+ people. They are my mother, father, grandpa (mother’s side, probably the most vocal ally I know), grandma (father’s side). I recently came out to my mother. She stated that I was too young to be gay, too young to know, and that she wasn’t going to believe me until I was over the age of 18. I am in the middle of my teens, and I do not believe I am too young. I now find myself unable to come out to anyone else. It took so much effort to get the words out of my mouth and now I don’t know how to tell anyone else. I’m sure, I’m praying, that if I tell her dad, or my dad, or his mum, they’ll accept me. They’ll make it all right. I don’t know what to do. How can I tell someone.

  • Fox@beehaw.org
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    Hot take, but you don’t actually have to come out if you don’t feel like it. Or, you can come out in another way - for example, when the time comes, be like “hey, I have a [boy/girl/whatever applicable term]friend and I want you to meet them.” If you still want to be out but don’t feel like it right now, maybe wait a little bit and then come out to the people you’re most sure will respond well.

    Good luck with your journey and I hope it goes better next time. Just remember to listen to your needs and not push yourself out of any sense of obligation.

    • autumn (she/they)@beehaw.org
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      0
      ·
      1 year ago

      hell yes to this. i’m in my mid 30s. i’m bisexual. only the people who need to know, know. why would my parents care? i’m (afab) dating a cis man. people who i feel especially close to know that i’m not straight. i’m “out” insomuch as i’ll say a girl is cute if i happen to see one.

      • Fox@beehaw.org
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        1 year ago

        Exactly this! I pick and choose who knows based on how comfy I am around someone. Like you, I’m bi in a “straight-passing” relationship, so many people aren’t aware; my dad will probably never know unless I date a girl, or he finds out in some random way, but I just don’t really care to share that part of my life with him. The older I get, the less effort I make to keep anything a secret. But I don’t make a strong conscious effort to come out to people if I don’t feel like it.