COMING OUT SAFELY
For many LGBTQ + people, coming out { telling other people about your sexuality) is a huge part of their journey. In an ideal wortd we wouldn ' t assume that people are straight, so there would be no need for coming out, but it can help you feel more open and honest about who you really are, as well as having a better understanding of yourself. However it is important to to remember it is not essential, and if you feel you would be unsafe after coming out you don ' t have to. Here are a few tips to ensure you put your safety first when discussing your sexuality with other people.
1. ONLY TELL PEOPLE YOU TRUST
Again, in an ideal wortd being LGBTQ+ wouldn ' t be a big deal and everyone would accept it. Unfortunately there are a lot of closed-minded people out there, and they may react negatively to the news. Make sure you talk to someone you know you can trust, who will be there to support you through the process. You can try testing the water with people by discussing sexuality in a general sense first, as this will allow you to get an idea of their opinions before telling them how you feel. It is tetrible that LGBTQ + people should have to take these steps, but your safety is always the priority so do what you can to ensure it. If you don ' t have anyone to talk to that you know personally there are numerous helplines available online who are always available for support and guidance, such as the LGBT Foundation
. Watdling You Tube videos on the subject can also be a really big help.
Ensure you ' re speaking out about your sexuality for yourself, not because you feel you have to or because you are being pressured. Unless you want it to be, it is no one ' s buisness who you ' re attracted to and you can keep it secret if you want to. It can be easy to be influenced by the opinions of others, so keep to your own mind and try not to let people tell you what to do. If you want to come out, you can. If you don ' t, then don ' t. Again, always make sure you are in a safe environment to do so and have a strong support network around you.
3. BE HONEST TO YOURSELF
You ' ll know when you ' re ready to talk about your sexuality, and you ' ll know in what way doing so will work best for you. It is important to respect yourself in what can be a difficult time, and to remember that the way you feel is for you and you only. You don ' t even have to put a label on your sexuality if you don ' t want to, you are free to feel however you want to and it is no one ' s place to tell you otherwise. Facing possible negative backash is hard, but as cliche as it sounds there is nothing wrong with how you feel and you shouldn ' t feel bad in any way shape or fonn. Don ' t let other people make you feel wrong for being true to yourself- these people often have their own life problems that they take out on other people to feel better. There will always be other LGBTQ+ influences, or even close friends and family, if you need help dealing with negative reaction so as hard as it can be, do what you can to rise above it, own your sexuality and be confident in it. SEXUALITY IS BEAUTIFUL!