Coming Out Support Group

Hey man, I am in the same boat as you right now. I am 20 years old and all through high-school I knew that I was gay. I didn't want any of my friends to know that I was because for the same reason as you said, I didn't want to lose my friends from a bad experience coming out. Now I have also only told one close friend who happens to be my girlfriend. At first I told her that I was bi, but then I did more soul searching and I then told her I was gay. We were dating for 3 years and I finally told her this after many times having sex. Now I feel alot about telling her and wish I could tell more people. I knew that I could not be happy being a gay man with a girlfriend. Anyways what I am doing about my problem with coming out as of right now is that I am going to the GLBT (gay lesbian bisexual transgender) center and they help people deal with coming out or bad experiences for coming out...If you need to talk about anything I have been in your shoes before, especially in highschool man...

I feel bad for you guys, because it is so much harder for people to accept you when you come out. My brother just came out about being bi as well. I think you just have to embrace who you are and know that not everyone is going to like it, but your real friends will stick by you and if a few of them don't, then they don't. You go on with life and find people who accept you. It's hard but it's the only way you won't feel like you're being torn in two.

things are going to suck, but you may get some surprisingly good responses too. coming out with something like being gay is scary because there is so much standing in the way: a lot of conservative society including religion, 'family values' and just fear of people who are different.
you have to go through the rain to get to the rainbow though, my friend. and the rainbow is worth the puddles and the downpour. you're about to kick up a lot of dirt, but it will settle.

I sympathize with you. The thing is, you have to be true to yourself, and if your ready to come out, then go for it. Just understand that living a gay lifestyle is far from easy. But you will feel better not having to hide who you are. And the friends that accept you, those are your true friends, the ones that dont, well, they never were. it just leaves room for new friends who accept you and even gay friends whom are going through the same thing. It may be hard to imagine life without those friends, but when one door closes, another opens. You will be fine. Its hard, but worth it. Life is too short to hide and surround yourself by people who like you because of the person you pretend to be, not the person you are.

"IT TAKES A LOT OF COURAGE TO GROW UP AND BECOME THE PERSON YOU REALLY ARE"

Good luck in your journey!!

I know exactly how you feel,
sometimes its just easier to just do it and get it over with.

for example,
a couple of my friends i've known since i was tiny are hardcore conservatives
(i.e openly express their feelings against gay rights)

well,
one day i just kinda blurted out to them that i was gay,
and they were taken back for a little bit, but they didnt abandon me or anything. and eventually accepted it.

when you have friends for years and years, they grow to love YOU for YOU.
not what you look like, your clothes, what music you listen to, your orientation.

just know you aren't alone. :)

you might be suprised by some of their reactions. they might've known before you did!!