How did you know it was time to come out?

[Bethany]

For LGBTers who've come out, what made you decide it was time to come out? How did you know you were ready to come out?

[ImCoolBeans]

I decided it was time to come out when I felt completely comfortable and confident in myself and my sexuality. I was sure that I was not going to regret it and I was ready to be more open with myself. It's a big commitment to make and takes a lot of courage and self acceptance that I spent a long time building up, with the help of a few people close to me. I eventually started to care less about what I thought people would think and what I was afraid they would say. I started to realize that in order for me to be happy, I would have to be myself, and until I came out I could not do that.

[Kevin Bacon]

I haven't come out of the closet yet, but I have worked up a list of people I want to come out to first. Those are the people who are not homophobic and judgmental. You've gotta know who and when to come out with. People like my dad or people who I'll come out to later in life, in college probably, because he's very homophobic. I don't know how he'll take it, but it's my life to live. If he really cares about me, his one and only son, then he'll support me.

TL;DR: Find the people close to you who you know will support you no matter what.

[ReginaGeorge]

I'm really not sure. There wasn't any event or special realization, I just kind of.. Did it. I mean, it took time of course. I had to learn to accept myself and be comfortable with it, but once I accepted myself, even before I fully understood my feelings and attractions (which I still sometimes need to figure out), I just couldn't be in the closet. It just.. I don't know, I couldn't. I had never been in a homophobic environment or faced any bullying for my sexuality (I'm pretty feminine and I kinda slip under everyone's noses) so I think that helped speed up the process as well. I know my most of my family and my friends wouldn't care, that also helped. The process coming up to actually coming out to someone is really hard to explain, you just kind of know, you know. When I was still figuring myself out I thought I'd never be able to come out and then one day I did. It wasn't as simple as waking up one day and knowing, that was a figure of speech, it just takes time. You will know, you'll just know, you'll feel it (sounded stupid to me before I knew as well). Coming out does really make things better though.

[steellord321]

I didn't really have to, it's always been obvious and i show no interest in girls. But when asked i just reply "are you?" or something since i don't think any in my area deserve to hear it yet. When i 'come out' will be when i think they'll be supportive, not because i desperately need to tell anyone what they already suspect. Of course in college i intend to be open about it.

[crepesuzette]

i mean i have not come out to my parents yet but i have told a couple of good friends and my teacher that i might be gay. it wasn't as bad as i thought because i thought that they would reject me if they knew who the real me was. well, they accepted me fine, but some people will not accept me because of their stupid beliefs. i don't mean to criticize anybody who disagrees with me, which i don't think is a big deal, but to tell me that i am not worthy is really hurtful and demeaning. i mean, what if you were gay? how would you like it if somebody else treated you like crap?