How to Come Out as a Gay or Lesbian Teen

Being a teen is hard enough. You constantly struggle with your identity and peer pressure. Being a gay or lesbian teen can be particularly tough, especially if you aren't true to yourself. Follow these steps to learn how to come out as a gay or lesbian teen.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

1. Gather your courage to tell your friends and family that you are in a gay or lesbian relationship. The first person you tell should be the one to whom you are closest. Tell them, "I have something to tell you that is very important to me. Please don't share this information with anyone until I have had the opportunity to tell them myself. This may be hard for you to accept, but I hope you will try."
2. Plan answers to the questions your friends or family may have. Some questions may seem offensive to you, but they are real concerns for them. If you are uncomfortable answering a question say, "I feel that is a private matter, and I would rather not answer it."
3. Come out wisely. Tell your parents at a time when they are emotionally available and not in the midst of a crisis, such as a death in the family or changes in their employment status. They may be hurt or angry when you first come out and will need to be able to absorb it emotionally, so be sure to give them time to accept the information.
4. Accept the fact that it will take some people time to get used to you being a gay or lesbian teen. Be patient and expect that some people may not accept it. You still deserve to have people treat you with respect despite whether or not they agree with or accept your sexual orientation, and state this to them.
5. Have pride in who you are. Despite how difficult it is to come out, in the long run, you will be happier for being honest with yourself and everyone else.