Best way to come out..

[coneill568]

Hi, so I've been pretty sure over the past two years that I'm lesbian. My feelings towards girls have gotten increasingly strong, but I'm a little bit confused, as in how am I suppose to come out to friends and family?
My family and my friends are quite religious so I'm not too sure they'd accept me, I've been dropping some hints into conversations i.e some latest LGBT news. In some ways my friends reactions have give me more confidence, whilst others have been quite homophobic. However, what's been worrying me the most is coming out to my twin sister, I just feel like she might be a bit freaked out and shocked. Not sure what the best way would be to do it, I just wish I had someone to talk to, living in an area where being lesbian or gay is unheard is particularly more frightening. My plan was to just wait until next year, when ill be moving to a country where I would be more accepted, but I'm becoming slightly impatient. Any advice would be great, haha!

[kidchameleon]

I had the same kinda worries when I was a bit younger (living pretty far north, in a town were open-minedness and modern thinking aren't exactly commonplace). The plan was always to shut my mouth until I got a chance to move away, and then everybody would accept me, and everything would be lovely.

I've yet to make my grand escape, but I did come out eventually. Personally went for the ripping the band-aid off approach. Told my mother I was going for a date, got back, she asked how it was, and I told her it was a boy. Job done. Not the softest approach, but I just wanted to get it over and done with

I think the best thing to do is find someone you know will accept you anyway, and come out to them first. A best friend, for instance. That way no matter what happens you'll have someone there to support you. And I know it sounds cliche, but at the end of the day any of your friends who don't accept you aren't really friends worth having.

As far as your family goes, it may be difficult... but at the end of the day, you will have to tell them eventually. Short of a major change of heart, you're going to be a lesbian for a while, so they're going to work it out eventually. Dropping hints first is probably a good notion, but the sooner you come out with it is probably the better. Assuming they take it well, it'll be a great relief to you, and a weight off your shoulders, and assuming the worst happens, it'll give them more time to get over it.

If they're religious, maybe prepare yourself with some quotes from whatever religion they follow that speak about acceptance, etc. If they're christian you should be relatively in the clear, as it says "men shouldn't lie with men", but I'm pretty sure women weren't told to stay away from women

Remember, you don't need to come out to everyone, that's just society telling you to label yourself so people can spot you at a distance. Let the people you want to know know, but don't feel pressured to make a big thing about it unless you want to.