I am still semi-exploring my sexuality but deep down I feel that I am not simply straight (but definitely attracted to guys - exploring bisexuality) and so I need advice about coming out. My family are completely supportive and open, but I have always been very shy around them in regards to my own sexuality. I will happily talk to them about other people's sex lives and sexuality but as soon as the topic of conversation turns to me I get all shy and embarrassed. I would even be scared to tell them I had a boyfriend or even had a crush on a guy, even though they are very open and happy to talk about those sorts of things among family I never have been. I suppose I am scared to lose my innocence around them, for all they know I have never even kissed anyone but the truth is I have gone a lot further than that. In terms of my friends I am even more scared. I think on the surface they will all be supportive and pretend they don't care, I choose my friends wisely and I would say I am a good judge of character, however I am scared of them secretly feeling uncomfortable around me, worrying I will either fall in love with them (to be clear I never have been or could be attracted to one of my friends, I see them as purely platonic) or be offended by any little joke they make. I am scared of drifting from people I really love spending time with because of this. I know some friends who politically share the exact same viewpoints as me and wouldn't see me any differently, but we live in a small town and I also have friends who although say they are supportive of LGBTQ+ people, I have heard make certain comments or I have gotten vibes that they are still slightly close-minded (i.e. the kind of people who 'really want a gay best friend' as an accessory or think all gay girls fancy them, making little jokes which wouldn't be offensive unless meant offensively, if that makes sense). I don't completely blame them for that, because of their upbringing and I think if they were a little more educated on the situation they wouldn't still be that way. So, in summary, the coming out advice I need on my family isn't about being scared to tell them because of what they will think, it is more for me, whereas the coming out advice I need on my friends is because I am scared of them treating me differently and growing apart from me. Anyway, enough rambling, basically does anyone have any advice on what I could do in these situations? Treating coming out to my family and coming out to my friends as different scenarios.
