Can You?

Yup, I think so, you just have to find that thing that's 'holding you back' from being yourself

 

Yes. In a way, a number of the people who come here are -- they are out to EC but still struggling with self-acceptance. It can also be a variable thing, as you can accept yourself, come out, and then not be self-accepting a while later; I had that recently, to an extent. I wouldn't recommend coming out whilst you're struggling internally about it, though, since you might regret it and if it goes badly then the consequences for you in yourself could be worse.

 

Yep. I think we have more than a couple of people in that situation right now.

Coming out doesn't solve your problems automatically. So if you came out or were outed before you were mentally ready, then the scenario above is possible. There is also the fact that many people, me included, come out while sort-of but not really accepting ourselves or with a lot of internalized homophobia still. There you get the whole "I'm gay, but not like those gays" type of people.

 

i think so. when i first came out, i felt like my friends and family were actually more accepting of me than i was with myself. none of them had any problem with it, but i was still coming to terms with it

 

Yes. I am, because I don't really keep any secrets about myself- whatever's going on in my head comes out. I've even worn a binder around my mom when I'm not really mentally capable of discussing it with her, because I don't even understand it myself.

 

Yes. I would say I spend five years in that place.

 

why do you feel you need to act differently? just be yourself! there's no specific way you need to behave to be gay.