The closet...

[darkxdreamer13]

The closet; to stay in, or to come out of it??

I will be a freshman in highschool this year, and i am new to the whole not being straight thing. I'm bi/pan. I've had one girlfriend and we were the most serious relationship I've ever had.
Only a few close friends know about me being bi.

I'm wondering, should come out in this year? Or should I not to avoid drama etc?

I want to because; If i don't come out, I won't ever get a girlfriend, because people may assume I'm straight.
I don't want to; Because my parents might freak out, and Ihave a couple homophobe friends, and I don't want to be made fun of.

Any advice?

[.Brittany.]

I was worried that my parents were going to freak out as well, but they were actually very accepting. Yeah they joke around sometimes, but they realize now just how happy I am with Briana. It was so hard to keep it inside, and not have anyone know, because I wanted to have someone to talk to about it. but now a lot of my friends know, and I'm still telling them. The rest of my family will be finding out next weekend.

[Soliloquy]

Hey there,

Coming out of the closet is a big decision! Kudos to you for considering it. Honestly, I understand how scary it can be.

Only you can know when the time is right for coming out. I think you should sit down and weigh the pros and cons. Coming out as a freshman in a new setting can be a great experience. Your slate is wiped clean and you get to start anew. You can start off the year keeping no secrets from your new friends and just being yourself. In some ways, I wish I had done this upon entering high school.

However, there are also other things to take into account. You needn't be ashamed of your sexuality, but you should be realistic regarding the reactions of others. Keep in mind that not everyone is very accepting of members of the LGBT community. I think it is a good idea to ask yourself if you could handle the drama if this process was to turn sour.

I am not saying this to try to discourage you. However, kids can be mean sometimes. Do you live in an area that is pretty accepting of homosexuality? Do a lot of people discriminate against it? Do you know you will have certain people who will stand behind you no matter what?

I also want to ask you about your parents. You said they might 'freak out.' What do you mean by that? Are they homophobic to the point that you might find yourself with no place to go after coming out of the closet? If so, you may want to refrain from coming out for a little while. But if you think that you will be able to sort it out with them, maybe coming out could be a good experience for you!

In the end, people should like you for who you are. I simply believe that you should be prepared for any less-than-positive reactions you may receive from certain individuals. But of course, you also might not get any bad reactions! Do whatever feels best for you at this point in time.

I hope this helps! Take care! xx

[darkxdreamer13]

Thanks. I think I'll just see how it goes.
If people ask, I'll try not to lie. But I don't think I'm gonna go run down the halls screaming it haha. But thank you, and you're right, I have quite a few things to concider.

[Soliloquy]

Originally Posted by darkdreamerX13

Thanks. I think I'll just see how it goes.
If people ask, I'll try not to lie. But I don't think I'm gonna go run down the halls screaming it haha. But thank you, and you're right, I have quite a few things to concider.

I think this is a good compromise. You don't have to put your sexuality on display, but if someone asks you, telling the truth is great if you feel comfortable enough to do so.

Glad I was able to help! Take care!

[Dark_Night]

I'm kind of in the same boat. It's only been recently that I've been able to acknowledge my status. I've only told two people in my life but technically I'm still in the closet since no one else knows and they haven't said anything to anyone.

[darkxdreamer13]

Thanks.

And Dark_Night, I'm the same. I told my closest friends, because I knew they'd be more comfortable with it, but I'm scared for what happens when everyone knows, you know? Do you plan on more telling people?