So Iv’e written about my struggles with sexuality to TeenCentral and it helped (Thank you btw!) and I have discovered that I am Polysexual. This term often gets confused with Polyamorous but it isn’t. It’s always a little harder to explain to people who don’t know because it’s like Pansexuality but not really. I usually just tell people I’m queer. But anyways, I still feel alone because not a lot of people are Polysexual and it’s not a term that’s used very much. I’ve come out to my close friends, but not my family. I feel a little scared because they know how vocal and supportive I am for the LGBTQ+ community and my mother, especially, is very religous. She does have one friend who is gay but when talking to me, she thinks I’m straight and doesn’t seem very keen on the idea of her own daughter being part of the LGBTQ+ community. My whole family is a bit open but, when it comes to my actual relatives in Mexico, they’re much more close-minded. There’s already pressure at family gatherings on talking to boys and thinking about marriage and stuff. I know I’m definitely coming out in June to the rest of my friends but I’m still scared to come out to my close family.
HELP YOURSELF:
- Thank you for continuing to visit Teen Central for support! You are not alone and it’s really fantastic that you have close friends with whom you already have been safely able to share who you are. You deserve a lot of credit for being true to yourself.
- The decision to come out, especially to family members that are often the closest to us, can feel overwhelming and scary. Check out the LEARN tab, in the SEXUALITY section for some things to think about as you decide how best to tell your family about your identity. You may want to consider what it is you want from them when you decide to come out – how would you like them to support you? Do you want them to change anything in how they address you or talk about people you decide to date?
- You already have a plan for coming out in June to your other friends, and it sounds like you have established some supportive relationships already in the LGBTQ community. GOOD FOR YOU! Rely on these people for support as you make the decision to come out to family – hopefully some of those supports can offer some things that helped in their own journey to coming out to their families as well.
CONSIDER THIS:
- Take some time to work through the different sections of “Things to Think About if You are Considering Coming Out” in the LEARN section under SEXUALITY. In there, you’ll see sections about how to care for yourself during this uncertain time, pros and cons of coming out, and helping you identify what it is you may need from them.
- Consider having one of your close friends with you if you decide to come out to your family members. If your close friends know your family, they may also have some suggestions about how to approach your family that you could practice with them ahead of time.
- During this time, make sure you stay aware of how you feel. If at any point uncomfortable or diffucult feelings lead to hopelessness, consider using a helpline for 24/7 support from the Trevor Project Lifeline – 866-488-7386 or check out www.thetrevorproject.org.
