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Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Coming out

Well, I had decided ot come out. Now I have literally heard dozens of stories of coming out. The sad, the violent, the hopeful, even the funny. Mine was none of the above.
I practiced all day... My mom called me off sick when she saw my pale face that morning and banished me to my room for a rest. She firmly believes that sleep cures all ills. So, I cowardly took the day ot practice what I would say, and thought of all the senarios I have heard about on the internet happening. I even had a ridiculous version of being punched in the face by my dad, though in my entire life I have never even been yelled at by either of my parents. It left me a nervous wreck.
I waited until after my little brother was in bed and went into the living room where Dad was channel surfing and Mom reading a book. "Uh, can I talk to you for a second?"
My parents never said no to a talk. Instantly the tv was muted and Mom turned her book down ot keep her page. Two sets of eyes waiting patiently, and Mom noticed my nervousness. "Oh, God, Jamie, you aren't failing math again, are you?" My mother, the mathematicla genius has never understood my inability with numbers. I spent months of each year being tutored by her at the diningroom table.
I bit my lip, almost opting for the easy out. "Well, yeah, but that is not what I need ot talk to you about," I admitting, and I saw my mom lock her hand on my dad's arm, suddenly scared of something that would make flunking math not important. "Well, the thing is... I just..." I realized I was scaring the shit out of both of them. "I think I am gay."
My mom sagged against the cushions. "Jesus Christ, Jamie, don't scare me like that again. I thought you were going ot tell me you knocked up some girl or something." she put a hand to her chest. "What is this, give your mother a heart attack day?"
I didn;t think she was taking me seriously. "Mom, I'm serious. I'm gay."
My dad gave me a thoughtful look. "Did something happen to make you think this, James?" he asked. Oh, god, did he think I was going around molesting boys?
My voice small I shoved my hands in my pockets. "No, I just know what I am, and um, am not attracted to."
"So there were no actions leading up to this discovery," I realized then my dad had been worried that I had been touched by some pervert who made me question my sexuality. I shook my head. The he relaxed. "O-kay. So, what now? Do you have a boyfriend or something?"
"No," I denied. Then I shrugged. "But there is a boy I like... he is into guys..."
Mom rolled her eyes. "And so the teenage dating whirlwind begins," she held her arms up for me to give her a hug, holding on a little longer than she usually did. "Just remember, when I hate your boyfriends it is not because they are boys, it's because no one will ever be good enough for you."
My dad came down to my room later and told me he was proud that I believed in them enough to tell them and handed me several boxes of condoms and made me promise to always use a condom, and never the freebees at clinics or cheap ones. That when I ran out ot let him know, and he would buy me more. It is an arrangement we still have, yeah, even at 19 I go to dad for condoms.

So that was it. As promised. Not sad, violent or hopeful, or even funny. Uneventful. Only in my house can you come out of the closet and people act as if you were saying you preferred blue t-shirts to black. I am sure one day when I share this story with other gay males who have gone through this they will tell me how lucky I was. How blessed with understanding. To me... I will always have the most boring coming out story ever.

7 comments:

  1. Glad it all went smooth for you! Im not a wierd stalker lol i came across your blog somehow and have gone read all your newest blogs and always wondered what your story was and just came across it now.

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  2. LOL, I'm glad you read it, lol. That's what it is here for.

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  3. Oh dude, I don't think that is boring. Your parents just handled it very well. Too well. Are you sure they didn't know beforehand? LOL. Your crazy! My dad took it well, but my mother didn't. Maybe I should put my coming out story. It's really long and... saddening-ish. I'm proud of you that you told your parents... I didn't and I never would have if they didn't catch me in the act.

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  4. Too well. Are you sure they didn't know beforehand


    Oh, man I never thought of that, lol.

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  5. Let's hope that one day all "coming out" stories are like yours.

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  6. What incredibly supportive parents you have. They were so sweet in their reaction.

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  7. Your story is exactly what I wish for all of my friends who have yet to make it "official".

    Parents of the world: THIS IS WHAT YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO DO!

    I can only trust that we are getting closer to the day when your story is everybodys story.

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