I am a returning member [to the forum]. I used Chadz for a period of time when I was in the closet. I first started using this site when I started college. I was finally able to use a computer to go on the internet without worrying about my parents seeing what I had been up to! (My Mom was a good little spy....)
During that time I felt really isolated/alone/depressed. I grew up in Georgia and I felt like everyone was very anti-gay. I was almost positive that once I came out of the closet I would be on my own. It seemed like a bleak future ahead and I was pretty sure that I faced a world that was going to constantly look down upon me and make me feel like a 2nd class citizen.
When I finally found the courage to come out to my family, it went better than expected. My Mom cried and did the usual "Are you sure, maybe it's a phase?" sort of deal. But she learned to cope. My Dad was brilliant. He drove to a beach with me and explained that he didn't care what I was and that he just loved me as his son. It was really great and totally unexpected. (If not a bit awkward). But after coming out things changed. I was myself and I was able to be myself in public without trying to hide anything about me.
I decided to move the UK to start my job. I work as a flight attendant and it is a very "gay friendly" industry. So it is possible that I am disillusioned slightly. However, my world is fantastic. I live in a society where being gay is Ok. I came from bible belt America, where every prejudice is encouraged, to liberal UK. The world is changing. It's a place where you can be yourself and not worry about what other's think. The best part is that we are a part of the generation that is changing things.
I guess the point of this thread is that I understand that people feel strangled. I did. I spent most of my time obsessing and looking up what other people thought about homosexuality. I cared far too much. I want to let people that are still closeted know that you will get to a point where you don't care. You will shrug it off as ignorance. You cannot let other people's backwards thoughts get you down. Some of you may already take this stance (and good for you!) but if you are like I was, and easily depressed by the abundance of anti-gay feelings in the world, I hope you can take some comfort in knowing that it will change for you.
When I finally found the courage to come out to my family, it went better than expected. My Mom cried and did the usual "Are you sure, maybe it's a phase?" sort of deal. But she learned to cope. My Dad was brilliant. He drove to a beach with me and explained that he didn't care what I was and that he just loved me as his son. It was really great and totally unexpected. (If not a bit awkward). But after coming out things changed. I was myself and I was able to be myself in public without trying to hide anything about me.
Support Stories