3 of 53

Write now Article Tools

The whole process known as "coming out" otherwise known as "coming out of the closet" is a phrase that plagues many young gay, lesbian, transgender, and transsexuals. The risk of coming out to your loved ones almost outweighs the benefits and many wait until they are out of their parents house or over the age of eighteen. Unfortunately the world has failed to realize that being gay is not an alternate lifestyle choice but instead the way that we are made. Typically all young gay people play the straight role throughout their high school years especially depending on their religion, their relationship with their parents, the location that they live in, and just the general overall reaction they believe will occur after revealing themselves.

Nine times out of ten when you actually come out of the closet you receive responses from your friends like "No Kidding, and What Took You So Long." This gives a false sense of comfort, yes your friends understand and they already knew. You begin to realize that you were not fooling anybody except yourself. Immediately after you come out to the first person you feel like a million pounds has been lifted off of your shoulders.

Coming out to your parents is an entirely different story. If you are lucky you have parents that are understanding and in general just not angry. As with your friends, your parents already know that just refuse to admit it to themselves. It seems around the time I came out nobody wants a gay child. The response after coming out to your parents typically always results in screaming and in my case lead to a year of therapy to change my "gay tendencies." This of course does nothing except instills inside you a sense of hate for them. Deep down you just wish that they would understand.

I moved out quickly after I came out to my parents. My life went from bad to worse and I moved in with my girlfriend over an hour away. After being out of my parents house my life took a turn for the better and was finally able to be open about myself, my lifestyle, and most importantly I did not have to hide it any longer. My girlfriends family is very open and accepting of our lifestyle. They give me hope that more parents in the world are coming around and accepting people for who they really are.

To this day I have not seen or spoken to my father in over three years. I speak to my mother occasionally and see her a couple of times a year. My coming out story is one of the bad ones. Deep down you know ahead of time whether the conversation is going to go well or not. If you feel it is not going to, wait until you move out. Yes, it may mean a few more years of sneaking around and hiding who you really are but in the end it will be worth the pain and the suffering that your parents will instill on you if they do not agree with your lifestyle.

Coming out is a huge step in anyones life and one way or another you will feel a million times better once you take that first step out of the closet.

Learn more about this author, Christine Kerrigan.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about The importance of "coming out" and the difference it makes?
We want to hear your view. Write now!