by Brett Latina

Created on: July 27, 2009   Last Updated: July 29, 2009

How To Tell Your Parents You Are Gay.

You are gay and, as the title of this article implies, you are considering the various ways in which you might break this news to your parents. The matter has very probably played on your mind for quite some time, and you are no doubt anxious about the way your parents will react to this unconventional disclosure. Take comfort in the knowledge that you are not alone, for your predicament is more common than you might imagine. Let us explore some considerations, which might help you decide your best course of action.

We shall assume that you are confident of your sexuality. If this is not the case, then perhaps you ought to wait until you have gained a little more sexual experience and feel more certain about your sexual orientation before you take the rather serious step of sharing it with your parents.

Having established that you are gay and you know it (clap your hands), we can now examine your reasons for telling your parents. Remember that your relationship with your parents is a personal one, and as such, only you can decide whether or not it is appropriate to tell them about your sexuality. You should not feel pressured to do so. It may be the case that you are very close to your parents and feel that your sexuality is such an important, integral part of your life that to not tell your parents would be to hide an essential part of yourself from them. Perhaps you seek their approval of your lifestyle. Whether your reasons be selfless or selfish, kind or cruel, they will be personal. Giving serious consideration to these reasons beforehand will help you to feel more confident about the task ahead.

Maybe you are closer to one parent than the other, in which case you might prefer to confide in that parent, permitting them to share the news with the other parent. Alternatively, this might strike you as a selfish approach and you might think it better to speak to both parents at the same time, enabling them to be supportive of each other.

When you are quite committed to your course, consider the practicalities and the consequences of your revelation. There is no way of knowing how your parents will react to the news. If you live with your parents, you might give serious thought to alternative accommodation in the event of a bad reaction. If at all possible, confide in a sympathetic friend or relative. It is good to have emotional support at such a time.

Timing can be critical. Be considerate. If your parents work,

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