Hi Christine,
I’m 22 years old and haven’t come out to my parents yet and I need to. I’m terrified because I know they are anti gay. That’s why I’ve waited so long. I’m trying to decide the best way to do it. Should it be in a public place? Should I have a friend with me for moral support? Should I email them while I spend the weekend out of town? Yes, I’m that nervous. I don’t want a scene that I’m afraid is coming. Is there a good way to break this news to them that will be less shocking for them and feel safe for me? I hope you answer, thanks,
Signed, Terrified in Toledo
Dear Terrified,
I feel for you, wanting to come out and just be yourself, but your parents are anti-gay. Are you living with them now? Are you financially dependent on them? Is there a risk that they will kick you out or disown you, take away your transportation, cutting you off financially? If those are possibilities, make sure you have a safe place to live, even in temporarily. And make sure your support network of friends know what your plans are and will be able to be there for you.
I can’t really assess the best approach for you, as I’ve never met you or your family. But I encourage you to trust your own gut feelings here. Do what makes you feel safest. If going out of town for a weekend to let them discover and digest an email feels right, then do that. That will minimize a scene, as you won’t be physically in the same place when they find out and they will have to process it some before you see them again.
Meeting in public, like in a restaurant or a park, can be helpful to minimize the risk of an outburst. However, some people will still make a scene. If you think they might make a scene, it might be wise to have a friend with you for your support. Make sure you have your own transportation (or a friend’s) to and from that public place too, so you aren’t stranded.
Some friends of mine, Mike and Jan Neubecker, have a gay son, Lee. He finally came out to his anti-gay, Christian parents by leaving a PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians And Gays http://www.pflagdetroit.org/) brochure in his dad’s sock drawer. Mike, the dad, found the brochure after Lee had come home from college one weekend, and he flipped. He and Jan tried to get Lee into reparative therapy, to “make him straight” but finally realized that wasn’t working. They joined PFLAG and educated themselves. They learned that their son was gay because that’s who he is. It wasn’t their fault as parents. It wasn’t anyone’s fault. No one is going to burn in hell. They had grieving to do, because they had assumptions such as they thought their son would never marry and there would never be grandchildren.
Well, now Mike and Jan and proud grandparents of a sister and brother that Lee and his husband adopted several years back. They are a close family and travel together and have fun on holidays. Mike and Jan became active in PFLAG Detroit, and later founded PFLAG Downriver for many years. They have retired, and have moved further down the river, but are still actively involved in regional PFLAG activities and agitating for understanding and knowledge about gays and lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered people. He has been a part of the PFLAG Speakers Bureau for years. In fact, Mike has taken a Methodist Lay Preaching class, so he could talk to churches about his son and the importance of love and acceptance in families and in the church. Then he took a comedy class at The Royal Oak Comedy Castle. He’s got a wonderful set I laughed through on his graduation night performance.
Your parents might not be ready for you to refer them to the love, support and education that PFLAG meetings provide, but PFLAG will be there, ready for them anytime. Sometimes parents go into the closet when their son or daughter comes out. You’ve been struggling with this information about yourself for a while, so give them some time and space to process all of this. Sometimes it takes hours, sometimes months or years, but many many families come around to loving and accepting their gay or lesbian child, once they stop blaming themselves or fearing you might be headed to hell, or worrying that they’ll never have grandkids.
Write again, please, and let me know how your reveal goes. The bottom line, is take your time and do this when you feel emotionally safe, financially prepared and ready to deal with whatever happens. Sometimes it’s better to do it and deal with whatever happens, rather than wait and wonder. Trust yourself in this matter.
Take care,
Christine C Cantrell, PhD,
Psychologist