How did you deal with coming out to a very conservative family?
I come from a very conservative family background. I’m not ready to come out to my family yet, but starting to think about it. My family is religious, and I’m not sure where my dad and stepmom stand on gay rights. I know my mother accepts homosexual people, but doesn’t agree with it. Any suggestions? I don’t want to lose my relationship with them. How should I come out to them?
bring it up during a nice quiet dinner. at least it wont be so bad as doing it in the car when people are driving
Let them figure it out for themselves.
I think my son’s situation must have been really difficult. Not only did he come out to his step-dad and I, both of us are pretty Conservative, but he lives in a small Southern town and is only 15. My husband and I simply told him he was loved and accepted. We weren’t going to turn our backs on him, especially when we believe he was born this way. Now I’m not going to lie to you, his biological father wasn’t as understanding, but that’s unfortunately going to happen. People who “disagree” with being gay, people who don’t accept you, well, that is on them, not you. It isn’t right and I don’t understand how any parent could turn their back on their child because their gay or for any reason, but I know it happens.
Give your dad and step-mom a chance. Their reaction may surprise you. But you won’t know until you talk to them. Good luck to you.
My family is very conservative as well. When I came out though they were very accepting, though, now that I think about it they were only accepting because they thought it was a phase, and still does. *ROLLS EYES*. My father constantly makes little notes about it here and there, like when the subject of relationships or weddings comes up, he’ll be like, “If you marry a man, or woman, or whatever, ya know?….” And everything just turns really awkward for the moment. What ya should do, is come out when you feel most comfortable, you probably shouldn’t do it at a dinner, or a big event, make it seem like an announcement cause it makes things weird. If you’re with your mum/step-mum/pops alone, and ya feel most comfortable, just casually slip it by. It might be extremely emotional, I know I was when I came out, even though there was no point, sense my pops wasn’t attacking me or anything. Thats how I feel of the subject, if you feel more comfortable with coming out at dinner in front of everyone like some big ol’ announcement. That’s fine though, hehe. I wish you all the best! And I hope I helped!
-e