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- Coming out is sharing with someone part of your identity, but it's also about learning how to express and better understand your identity for yourself. Coming out to yourself is a huge step.
- People come out as lesbian, gay, bi, transgendered and many other things.
- You can come out to everyone or just a few people. It's up to you.
- It's your choice when to come out or whether to come out at all.
- For each person, it takes a different amount of time to come out in the way they choose - and sometimes it takes a lifetime. It is a constant process of learning more about yourself and deciding how to share that with the people around you.
- There
are many different tips for coming out.
- Check out books and web sites for some ideas.
- Consider joining a teen group that can give you some ideas and support you throughout the process.
- Start by telling one person.Choose someone you trust and who you think will be supportive. Choose a time and place where you are comfortable and have privacy.
- You
may want to:
- talk in general about the gay community to break the ice and hear your friends thoughts.
- give them warning that you have something important that you want to share with them.
- be direct and just tell them.
- Explain whether you want them to keep the information private.
- Give them a chance to absorb the news, you may not get the reaction you were hoping for right away.
- If you never get the reaction you were hoping for, talk to someone about it, like a counselor or someone who has been through a similar experience.
Consider the following tips, but decide for yourself the approach you like best.
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