My Coming Out Story.

My story isn't a very challenging one. When people found out, I wasn't disowned or lectured on how terrible this lifestyle is. My family isn't very religious, so the aspect of God not accepting me into "the kingdom of Heaven" wasn't in their thoughts. I wasn't ridiculed, beaten up or hated for who I was, at least to my knowledge people don't hate me for being who I am today. I've been nothing short of lucky to be able to be myself around my family and for them to accept me. Though my story isn't the same as others, those who are much more unfortunate than I was when I came out, I hope my story can give anyone some insight and hope for their own stories to be told.
Growing up, I, like almost any other gay kid can tell you we felt different. I couldn't put a finger on why I felt so differently, but I just knew something wasn't right. I didn't let it bother me, though. I couldn't figure it out and I was a kid, I had more important things to worry about, like Rugrats and getting my one sheet of homework done when I got home from school to play with the other kids.
I had a crush (I wasn't aware of it at the time) on a male student teacher. When I thought about it, I didn't tell myself "Wow, he's cute.. I have such a crush on him!", it was just a general attraction. He was good looking, funny and a great teacher to the students in his class. Again, I just let this go.. didn't think twice about it. I also realize I had crushes on some of my male peers. I honestly think I just let it happen and not let it bother me because I felt like it was just a normal thing.
Well, in middle school there was a kid who people knew was gay. There would be snide remarks but he had family in that school so no one fucked with him. Him and I started talking because we had the same group of friends and one thing after another, we slowly started talking about him being homosexual. I didn't admit I was, I wasn't even sure yet. I was dating a girl who I'd never even held hands with so I couldn't of been gay, right? After a few relationships with girls in school, I knew I wasn't into them. I grew attracted to this boy and I wasn't sure how to handle it. I admitted to him I thought I was gay, but I kept denying it, afraid for anyone to know. It was something I told myself I had to hide. What would happen if people knew? I couldn't be picked on for it, I was such a shy kid, I'd break.
Fast forward to high school. I finally started realizing kids were different, shapes, sizes, preferences, etc. I began accepting my difference and realized I wasn't alone. The girl I last dated in middle school ended up being a lesbian, so she was the first person I told. She knew it all along, once I told her, her response was "Uh-huh.. and?" like it was nothing. I asked myself "Is it really this easy?"
I slowly told more friends.
I ended up dating a boy in high school I crushed on hard. Once that happened, I had a fuck it attitude. If people knew, great.. if they didn't accept it, why should I care? This is my life, no one else's.
Then I began telling family.
I remember being in the car with my oldest sister when I told her. I said "So, guess whose I'm dating?" and she responded with my best friend, Rose. I said "Actually.. no.. it's ___" and felt my heart in my throat. Her response? "Oh my God, that's awesome, can I tell your brother-in-law!?"
Seriously? I tell you my biggest secret and you brush it off and want to tell your husband!? As it turns out, they both knew all along, they were just waiting for me to come out and tell them. They have been nothing but accepting of me and I can't thank them enough. To this day, my sister still tells people about her "gay brother", especially if it's related to the huge gay marriage debate or anything referring to same-sex.
Next, my other sister.
I told her one night in my room about who I was dating and she kept saying "No way!" - which scared me. I didn't think she'd be okay with it, but to my shock (pft, not really) she knew all along.
AND GUESS HER RESPONSE?
"Can I tell your brother-in-law!?"
SERIOUSLY.
Not one, but both sisters wanted to tell their husbands because they all knew this whole time.
After that, I felt so good about myself and my life. I brought my boyfriend at the time around as much as possible and family started understanding what was going on. My father and sister would make gay jokes in the car and my mother would brush it off. Not that she didn't accept it because I knew she does, I just think it took her time to adjust to it. I'm sure she wasn't planning on having a gay son, whether she did or not.. that didn't matter. She has said time and time again she'll love her children no matter what and if one happens to be gay, then so be it. Good for them.
Funny side story pertaining to this post...
In high school, I won Homecoming King. I beat out a few other competitors who were a bunch of royal douche bags. They thought they were the shit in that school, turns out.. not so much. Anyway, after beating them for Homecoming AND Prom King, one asked me one day "Are you gay? You're dating ___ aren't you?" I responded with a big smile on my face and said "Yeah, I am. And we are dating, something wrong with that?" and he responded with the douchey "No dude, I don't have any problems, I'm happy for you!" and then went and told everyone else. He also repeatedly called others faggots and make snide remarks about homosexuals. So.. looking back.. you got beat not only in Homecoming court but ALSO Prom court by a faggot. Gays - 1 (or should I say 2?) and high school douches - 0.
Moral of this story? Be yourself. Just sit for a moment and really think about it this way:
When it comes down to it, who are you living for? yourself. No one else. You don't have to yell at the top of a building that you're gay. You don't even have to bring it up on your own, because in all honesty, it's no one else's business but yours. Just don't hide away if someone asks or brings it up. Don't worry about what they think. When you are honest with yourself and you admit to being who you truly are, you will be so much happier. So what if someone doesn't accept you for being gay, they're not really a friend anyway. A friend supports and accepts you no matter what. They'll fight for you and do anything to keep that friendship, if they're going to let who you fall in love with get in the way of the friendship they can take a fucking hike. I'm tired of people bring afraid of being themselves because of close-minded assholes whose only defense is "God doesn't accept homosexuals!" - yeah, well he also didn't accept haircuts, sex before marriage, accusations, arrogance, anxiousness and complainers, just to name a few. I know everyone has committed at least one of those. So why is the "sin" of being a homosexual so much worse than any of the rest? If there is a God, he will accept you no matter what. Enough religion talk.
So be yourself. I'm sure you're a kick ass kind of person, gay or not. That's just one small detail about yourself that's not as important as you think. Sure, be proud of yourself but I don't make it who I am. I have so many other qualities that I think shine brighter than that.
Again, I can't thank my family and friends enough for accepting me for who I am. They accepted me with no fears and they kept their minds open. I am so proud to call them my family and friends and I hope there are more people like this when others decide to come out.