Jared
Posted by ulla on Saturday, February 28, 2009
Under: Gay
Country & city: United States - Memphis, TN
Name/nickname: Jared
Age: 17
Gender: Male
What did you come out as (gay, bi, transgendered, use any terms you like here)? Gay
What other words would you use to describe yourself? A non-fem, non-butch boi who just likes the feeling of being with another guy
How old were you when you first realized your identity? Looking back, the hints were there since age 10, I realized it around 13 and accepted it when I was 17
How old were you when you first told someone? 16, in a church environment where I was trying to “cure” myself. As an accepted homosexual, I came out at 17
Did you plan it? If so, how? No.
What made you choose that person to tell? No particular reason really, just the feeling I couldn’t hide it anymore
Can you remember exactly what you said? I don’t know.
How did you feel? Once I came out, I felt an extreme sense of relief.
What was the person’s reaction? Most people were extremely accepting, although my mum still tries to convince me it’s just a phase and my dad has no idea
What did they say? Some just said ok and left it at that. Others had a lot of questions to ask, but nothing mean-spirited really. And in the case of my lesbian manager, it was just a “Ha! I knew it!” type thing
What was your relationship with the person like afterwards? Friends/family/etc
What’s it like now? Some are stronger while others have remained about the same
If you’ve been outed unwillingly, who did it? N/A
What happened? N/A
What were peoples’ reactions? N/A
If you’ve experienced homophobia etc, please give an example. N/A - thank god!
Since coming out, how “out” are you in the following areas of your life:
Educational institution: Everyone
Job: Only my lesbian manager and two others who I knew from outside the job.
Family: Only my mum
Friends: Just about everyone
What does being out mean to you? Before I came out, I was extremely suicidal. Trying to “cure” myself and and hide who I was led to a lot of twisted emotions, and I came out as a way to accept it myself. Since, life has been a little easier (although, still difficult) and I’ve been happier
What differences, if any, did your cultural background make to your experience of coming out? N/A
What does the concept of the closet mean to you? Fear.
What advice would you give someone wanting to come out? Scope those around you for how they are likely to act, then just do it!
If you could do it all again, would you do it any differently? If so, how? No
Name/nickname: Jared
Age: 17
Gender: Male
What did you come out as (gay, bi, transgendered, use any terms you like here)? Gay
What other words would you use to describe yourself? A non-fem, non-butch boi who just likes the feeling of being with another guy
How old were you when you first realized your identity? Looking back, the hints were there since age 10, I realized it around 13 and accepted it when I was 17
How old were you when you first told someone? 16, in a church environment where I was trying to “cure” myself. As an accepted homosexual, I came out at 17
Did you plan it? If so, how? No.
What made you choose that person to tell? No particular reason really, just the feeling I couldn’t hide it anymore
Can you remember exactly what you said? I don’t know.
How did you feel? Once I came out, I felt an extreme sense of relief.
What was the person’s reaction? Most people were extremely accepting, although my mum still tries to convince me it’s just a phase and my dad has no idea
What did they say? Some just said ok and left it at that. Others had a lot of questions to ask, but nothing mean-spirited really. And in the case of my lesbian manager, it was just a “Ha! I knew it!” type thing
What was your relationship with the person like afterwards? Friends/family/etc
What’s it like now? Some are stronger while others have remained about the same
If you’ve been outed unwillingly, who did it? N/A
What happened? N/A
What were peoples’ reactions? N/A
If you’ve experienced homophobia etc, please give an example. N/A - thank god!
Since coming out, how “out” are you in the following areas of your life:
Educational institution: Everyone
Job: Only my lesbian manager and two others who I knew from outside the job.
Family: Only my mum
Friends: Just about everyone
What does being out mean to you? Before I came out, I was extremely suicidal. Trying to “cure” myself and and hide who I was led to a lot of twisted emotions, and I came out as a way to accept it myself. Since, life has been a little easier (although, still difficult) and I’ve been happier
What differences, if any, did your cultural background make to your experience of coming out? N/A
What does the concept of the closet mean to you? Fear.
What advice would you give someone wanting to come out? Scope those around you for how they are likely to act, then just do it!
If you could do it all again, would you do it any differently? If so, how? No
In : Gay
