Welcome to Gaia! ::

I do have advice on this issue. So many people have this same problem.

But I wold love to be idealistic and say, zomgosh! Be yourself! Show yourself off and be happy with it! Yay! Flowers! =D

Unfortunately, thats not how life is. This is one of the most important decisions you will have to make as a predominantly gay guy. I made the decision to tell my friends and allow my parents to find out.

My parents made me live in Texas for over a month with my evil aunt to try to change me or some silly thing like that. It has destroyed me and the relationship with my family, and I doubt it will ever change. However, I just cant quite leave or spend most of my day with friends, because I have to have the right to do that given by me by my legal guardian with all the legal implications and all. So Im stuck in the house, day in day out, on Gaia, when I could be doing so much other things. Most of this all comes from the fact I let my parents know about me. Now Im back to denying that Im gay, maybe dropping an occassional hint to them every now and then, but once again, Im hiding myself, but Im treated like a demon child.

There will be social consequences as well. Some people will love you for it, some people will hate you. You have to determine what to do as far as that, and if you will be okay with those consequences.

However, being open will open you up to having relationships as other potentially gay or bi people wont be able to be open about themselves. They will make the first move to meet you, which makes your job a little easier. You also dont have to carry the burden of hiding who you are. So its not like there arent perks for being openly gay. But there are alot of pros and cons, and for me, there were alot more cons then pros. Dont do it just cause it seems like the morally best thing to do, you cant take this decision back.

Ok what you are describing sounds like your worst nightmare. Meaning it probably is. I've never actually heard of cases this extreme (granted I do live in Canada...the land of the liberals). Could it possibly be that you are merely projecting your fear of redicule and that is hiding reality? The reality where all your friends won't turn their backs on you and your family won't disown you. I mean when you think about, your friends have been your friends for however long. Coming out does not change who you are because you always were gay they just didn't know it. If they get upset talk to them logically and rationally. Mostly I'd say your female friends will be more accepting, its true: many girls DO love having gay guys as friends. Guys will accepting too unless they get scared you are going to start hitting on them and stuff.

I don't know. It just seems like what you are describing is too bad to be true. And as for your parents, unless they are hardcore Mormon *pokes Wolfie* they will probably be ok with it. They are your parents! If anything they will ignore it or go through the "its just a phase" phase. But thats not as bad as it seems.