Coming out

Just embrace it!

Go at your own pace. True friends will accept you regardless. Don't rush things!

It really is both sad, and heart wrenching that people face this type of stuff everyday. I don't see why people can't just accept people for what they're and not what their religious beliefs are, what their skin-tone is, or in this case, who they decide to fall in love with....I mean really? WTF does it even matter? We humans have come far in this regard, but it's still far from ideal.

Also:

I will say this as responsible and politically-correct as I can manage...

If you are the Perez Hilton/Chris Crocker type of gay, then you and all the others like you can go live on a separate island. Period.

;) In all seriousness, I sincerely wish you well. I don't know exactly how you feel, but I know that you shouldn't be afraid to be who you truly are. Whatever you do, just choose to live, man. God bless.

It's Ok. I've Met People Who Would Say Your Going To Hell. Your Fine. God Loves You No Matter What. As My Favorite Character Says, Follow Your Heart. I Will Touch Down On This In The Next Episode Of ''Lightnings Random Questions''. Good Luck

Please think about reaching out to groups in your area who can help you. I don't know where you live, but I'm guessing there might be a few organisations which can complement the strength you already have. You deserve to be happy, you deserve to be unafraid and you deserve to live your life free of judgement. Unconditional love is a real thing. You deserve that most of all.

@veitha: I get it, man. And I'm in a similar situation myself. It's brave of you to get it off your chest and I really hope that you find your opportunity to break free and be who you want to be. You can PM me any time if you have to. @squares: Space after an ellipsis, hun. <3

Right on dude.

Now, your next step is take what you've said here, and apply it to the world in general, IRL as they say. I'm not gonna be an arsehole and say "Vine is teh wrong place for dis OMG", but online is only gonna take you so far. And if your parents won't support you, then screw em. Your 17 now bro, practically a man/woman. Time to start making your own choices and supporting yourself.

But hey, this is a good first step. Good on ya man.

@veitha: There's nothing wrong with you, the situation sucks but it gets better. For example, my brother, in high school, was a total bigot. Dude made fun of gays 24/7 but once he got into college he realized it doesn't matter and ended up rooming with two lesbians and served as the best man to one of his roommate's wedding. Most people stop caring once they hit around that age.

Honestly, most people our age don't even care anyway. People make comments but aside from a few tools almost everyone I know have no problems with gay folks.

My best advice, tell your friends but not your parents. Your friends are totally expendable. The ones that leave you were never true friends to begin with and the ones that stay your friends will be there forever after that. Your parents will probably try and say the "phase" thing if you come out before you're in college so it's best to wait for that. But i'd think you'd feel a lot better being yourself and being disliked by a few than being someone who you are not and adored.

Either way, I totally support you and I'm here for you, dude.

@veitha: I'm sorry to hear that you're going through a tough time like this, I'm afraid at this point I can't offer anything original to say other than to expound on what other's are saying. See if you can get involved with support groups or counseling from people who have had to go through similar situations. I wish I could offer you more words of comfort butI admire your courage my friend and I'm pulling for you, stay strong and if you need anything; to vent or talk or whatever please do not hesitate to PM me.

I am in awe of your courage, to express such things about ones self can be hard, even to strangers, so I hope you are not feeling too vulnerable. I hope you have found some sense of relief and lightness in this respect as well. I think its good when people do this, because your words will also help many others who are in a similar position as well as be comforting to those who have been in similar position in the past.

I am not gay, but I am not exactly typical in a way that would be accepted or tolerated in my real life community either, I would either classify under pansexual or asexual, so fortunate in the sense no one would really bother me about it. So I am sorry that you are in a situation where there is real possibility of losing loved ones, friends family, or even just facing pressure, rejection and anxiety being in a community that might not be that tolerant.

I think the future and time is your friend, as in I don't know the specifics for your situation? So it can be hard for me to make theories and predictions, but at some point you will be making enough money so that you can travel and close real life friends can still remain close, but they might end up being online friends, and your social circle will expand and you will make more friends and your existing friends will get more mature and tolerant and exposed to life and I am almost positive you will get to find places you can express yourself more throughly and also find love. True at some point you might have to face some loss with some friends but that happens to everyone generally, its good to fight for a friend or a friendship but also good to have friends who will fight for you and your friendship as well. To be honest, most of my good friends are online, don't actually have many in real life but that suits me and my personality just fine.

Fear is a scary thing but try not let it consume or rule you, you may be overestimating how some of your friends would react. Maybe you can think of ways of talking about it to them, maybe ask the ones you trust most that one of your cousins or overseas relative told you they came out and you are not sure what advice you would give them? Maybe gauge their reactions? I mean statistically depending on how many friends you have, one of them is probably also homosexual or bisexual as well. They might just be in a similar position to you? Female friends in general can be good as they can be a bit more mature and sincere on discussions about gender and sexuality, at least in my experience as well, all my male friends wanted to act macho and staunch - especially in the group setting. It can depend person to person. I don't know you too well aside from some interactions around the X-Men and Emma threads, you always struck me as intelligent and articulate, your grasp on English is great! I am sorry to hear you are having a tough time over all this. Am glad you are at a stage where you might feel more comfortable with yourself. You deserve to feel comfortable and happy too!

Hope you are feeling a bit better. Sorry if my reply was too long, nothing is wrong with your post at all, its more of a matter of your own comfort thats important. Also if you ever feel like talking or are down, please send me a PM as well, I know you like Emma Frost and I do as well quite a lot. Actually my best male friend ended up that way because of our mutual appreciation of Emma Frost so its always nice talking to anyone about her in general heh heh.

Thank you Veitha.

@veitha: If its any consolation at all i'm from the other side of this. Ie: My friend came out as being gay and it didn't make me think any less of him. I know its got to be hard but most people especially people who consider themselves your friends won't hold this against you. They may seem suprised or even shocked at first but it shouldn't have any lasting effects and if it does then those people wern't really your friends.

Meh, a few of my good friends are gay, big deal. The only problem we have with each other is that he's an apple and I'm a android.

If you don't make a big deal out of it and be confident with it then people that would say anything won't. They say things to get a reaction out of people.

It’s a shame you are going though so much trouble but honestly who are people to judge you based on your sexual orientation? If you are a homosexual, it's your choice, that’s how you are born; I see nothing wrong with that.

Though a little selfish question, I always wanted to have gay friend, I've managed to make 1 so far, would you be willing to be my friend?

Screw the people saying this isn't the place to come out on. You have friends here, this is not only a community, but a family, so more power to you for letting CV be the first step on a new path in life. Congratulations on having the courage to do this and I hope you don't regret this. I'm sorry that you don't think the people in your real life will be so accepting, that is a huge bummer, but you shouldn't so scared to hide who you are. Maybe don't come out so publicly, just start small with the people you trust the most and work your way outward. I wish the best for you, man.

@veitha: are you in college or interested in going? If not, once you go to college, they're more open minded about these things.

My gay friends finally emerged from their cocoons and found many friends who wanted to have gay friends.

Wow, Comic Vine has that many 16 and 17 year olds?

@veitha:

I am sorry I think I misspoke when I said "it was your choice", though I think you understood what I meant.

Also hehe sounds weird when you say , go collecting gay friends, it's not like that. I have always wanted to have a gay friend; i always thought it would be cool. I recently met someone like that online, here on comicvine, though let's not reveal his identification. It was pretty cool.