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The "Coming Out" Stor(y/ies) Part 2: coming out to my parents
I've always had an extremely open, honest relationship with my parents.  When i first got together with Star, i didn't want to tell then because i "wanted to be sure" before i put them through having another child come out.  But, at the same time, i felt dishonest.  I never lied, my parents met Star and really liked her.  They knew i was spending time with her and would occasionally spend the night.  At one point, my mother asked me "is Star a Lesbian?"  At this point, my face turned bright red, I
was convinced she knew about the two of us!  I told my mom that yes, Star was a lesbian, and that was the end of the discussion. I wanted to let my parents into my life.  For the first time, i was having feelings for someone, having this amazing experience, and i could not share it with them.  I could not tell my parents that i was in love.
Finally, July 3rd, I had a bought of confidence.  My parents were reading in their bedroom.  I knocked and entered.  "i have something i want to tell you."  At that point there was no going back.  I didn't want to say "i'm gay" or "i'm a lesbian" because i didn't want to box myself.  I didn't feel certain with a label.  I forced myself to speak, but i began to get choked up just thinking about it.  "Star and I are more than friends."  My mom cried, my dad was silent.  My mother told me I was corageous for coming in and telling them.  Both my parents gave me hugs.  I left the room crying, and closed the door behind me.  I heard my father lean over and say to my mother "well, honey, looks like we're two for two!"
When i later told my brother my "coming out" story he was pissed off. 
"No fair" he said, "I didn't get a punch line for my coming out story!"
Update, July 2003:

I no longer "come out."   Coming Out only exists because we live in a heterosexal, homophobic world.  People assume you are straight, and if you are not heterosexual, you are taught to be ashamed of your sexual identity, and to censor yourself.  I'm at a point with myself and my sexual identity that i am 100percent okay with who i am, and refuse to censore myself.  Therefore, when I mention an "ex-girlfriend" it isn't coming out any more than when some guy talks about his "ex-girlfriend" he's coming out as striaght.  I believe that if you always make a special effort to COME OUT, you are just feeding into the idea that people are straight and if they're not, it is their responsibility to make a huge deal out of  informing everyone of this fact.  I don't shy away from pronouns that "incriminate" me as queer, but i don't make a special effort to out myself when the situation doesn't call for it.  At this point too, in my life, everyone important to me knows i'm queer, as does pretty much everyone who's come into contact with me to any degree.  I'm spokesperson of my school's queer alliance and thus am the most out person on my campus.  If me being out helps some other people have the confidence to come out, i think my visibility is worth it.
back to Part 1: Coming Out to Myself
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