Yep. And I think this was the hardest thing I have ever had to do in my life. I had no idea what would happen, how they would react, anything. To have to say “I’m Gay” without knowing if I’ll be kicked out of the house, beaten or embraced with love is beyond frightening.
Unfortunately, I came out at school thinking it would be no big deal. A few friends would know, well the class I was in at the time, but that would be it. Within hours it had spread around half-a-dozen schools in the area (was just at time when the first PAYG phones were out so people could text/call each other), and every pupil in ours knew (including my brother who never found it out from me, but has since forgiven me for that).
I had never expected that and as such for the next week I dreaded going home - did my parents find out from my brother, did they overhear someone talking about it in Tesco’s, etc.? At the end of the week, I really couldn’t take it any more.
We all sat down at the table for tea and ate. I said nothing, and afterwards my parents washed up while my brother went upstairs, still I said nothing. Even as my parents when shopping at Tesco’s, and an hour later when they came back I was still sat in the same place, silent. At that point through shear exhaustion, I came out.
They were great about it. Said they had suspected something, but they didn’t care. After a short conversation (which I don’t remember much of) I went up to my room and I think fell asleep.
In fact, later that year both my parents admited it was a little bit of a shock to them, but they knew instantly that they had to support me. My dad even said that after nearly 20 years in the Police, much of which was spent in Central London, he had seen homophobia and the damage and hurt it causes, and vowed to protect me if I needed it. My mother had a few gay friends when she was younger in the 80s and supported many of her friends through difficult times too. They just never expected it would be me that was gay too; I never gave them any inkling that I was that way inclined.
it took a while for them a while to come to terms with it themselves, but they (and my brother) still support me to this day and I love them all with all my heart; nothing has really changed between us, despite this.
