There's been a few posts over the last few weeks which have given me time to think about this, basically as the title says. Before kids start their teenage years they seem to still have the habit of telling their parents everything (mostly) before they become an angsty teen who's conversation is no more than "yes" and "no", there have been a few I've seen where it's just been in general conversation and their kid has just said something like "I think I'm gay" or "I like boys". Obviously it is hugely dependent on the tolerance of the parents, but that is growing exponentially in society. But I'd be lying if I didn't say I wasn't jealous with the ease of how they do it, perhaps it's still that childhood trust and naivety and not fully understanding their feelings. But we all seem to put up a bit of a wall with our parents as we go through our teens and I think it's not having that which I am most jealous of.
I mostly understand you... For now my mother knows and my father doesn't. I didn't want any of them to know, it was too private for me, but my mom got to know. Anyway - back to the topic, I'm sure it's not only because of their naivety, it's more of having really good and close relationship with them, I was confused with it myself how could I let anybody know about something I wasn't really sure of? I honestly can't tell if I'd be feeling better If I told anyone earlier. Now the thing is that I'm at least sure who I am and I think I want to let some more people to know, the thing is fear is real!
I understand. But I feel that I can be jealous of your generation! But anyway, it is not really a competition about who has been most badly done by. And I am glad to be alive now, and in a tolerant country.
Jealous? Your 23 and have your entire life ahead of you. Live life for now and the future. The past is the past.
Yeah, I'm glad I came out as early as I did. I couldn't imagine being the age I am now and still being stuck in the closet. o.o But I envy people who came out even younger.
I envy people who live in a place it is that easy to come out and their courage... I could come out earlier but I know what consequences would be like, I don't think it's always best to come out as soon as you can.
Preach! Every time I hear about a 13 or 14 year old coming out and how great their family's reaction was, it kind of stings, and then I feel ashamed that I'm still closeted. Some people are just lucky.
I know I know! It's what I try to do, but one can't help but feel what could've been with some more knowledge earlier.
I agree. I was really shy and really reserved through high school and college and suppressed all of my thoughts and feelings about girls because I thought I was just wired wrong. I thought that if I just found the right guy, I'd stop thinking about girls and view guys more sexually. At the point I'm at now: I'm 25, finally able to admit to myself that I'm a lesbian, and feeling totally behind. Through my young adult life I dated guys, not because I liked them, but because I was trying to prove something to myself. I never asked to be labeled straight, but because I don't "look like a lesbian" and I didn't come out when I was young, I'm stuck feeling like I missed out. I don't know any gay or lesbian people where I live and I have no clue as to how to meet them. I'm afraid girls won't want to date me because I'm not out and don't have any experience with girls. Why couldn't I have figured this out sooner? I mean, I know I'm still young, but I feel like I missed those important explorative years.
I get you. In a way, I feel like I've lived life as a lie - like I'm lying to my family by not telling them. They have expectations built up now that I will get married and have kids.
I came out to my parents when I was 14, and they're great. If not for all those before us who fought for the rights of LGBT people, it wouldn't be so easy for my generation and those to come. It's getting better, but some places are still awful for LGBT people. I sometimes feel bad that I never really had to face homophobia, and yet so many people had to or still have to. Anyway, I'm rambling. What I'm trying to say is, thank you Foz, and everyone else, for making it easier for today's LGBTQA+ youth. Thanks
I came out fairly young (age 16), but I've seen kids come out as gay/bi as early as 10. They didn't have to waste all of their teenage years in confusion and denial; they just somehow knew right away, and it makes me mad jelly. I'm still happy, though. Like the above poster said, it's the hard work of our LGBTQ elders that makes it a little easier for us to come out everyday, and I appreciate it.
my dad did ask me if I want it to be a boy when I was around 12 or 14 I lied cause I did not know how he would react he the only that ask me that nobody else:icon_bigg
i know that coming out is not a race and there will be no winner beside ourselves but yeah, I get jealous whenever i see someone have found who they are in early teens and brave enough to show their true colors to the world. and me on the other hand... i found out i was gay quite early but still pretty much stuck inside the closet ever since.:icon_sad::icon_sad:
Coming out at a young age isn't that great. I attempted to come out when I was fourteen, but no one took me seriously. That made me extremely confused and hurt. I wish I would have come out later.
