We live in a day and age when the public accepts and supports most lifestyles. This is especially true for those in the LGBT community. A couple of decades ago, being gay was seen as a negative thing and most people were ashamed to admit it. Today, we have reached a time when many applaud and accept it. However, that may not make it any easier to come out to your friends and family. You might be worried about their reactions and concerned that you will hurt your relationship with them. While there’s no saying how your family will react to hearing your news, there are some things you can do to make telling your family you’re gay go more smoothly.

Have the Right Timing To Tell Your Family You’re Gay

One of the most important things is making sure you have the right timing for telling your family. Generally, you will tell your parents first, so we’ll use them as an example. If you’re in the middle of an argument with your mother or father, this is not the appropriate time to let them know you are gay. For one thing, emotions are already high. For another, they may not be in the right state of mind to process this kind of information. Besides, they may not take you seriously if you say it in a moment of anger, especially if they think you are just trying to get a reaction out of them.

Because you don’t want to be tempted to do this in the heat of the moment, try to plan the right time. You could tell your parents you would like to have lunch with them sometime so you can talk to them about something important. You may choose to invite them over to your place for lunch, or you may decide to go to a public place. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when considering a public place:

• Your parents may want to receive the news in private so they don’t feel like others are watching them.
• You risk your parents causing a scene if the news is not received well.
• If you are worried about your parents’ reaction and know they won’t want to cause a scene in a public place, then you may consider taking them out to eat.

Taking them to a public place is risky, so think about it before making your final decision.

Time to Process

News like this can take time for some to process. Perhaps your family has suspected it for a while and you are just confirming what they already knew. Maybe you have hidden it well so it comes as quite a shock. Either way, be patient and give them time to process the information. You want to give them time to adjust before bringing your boyfriend or girlfriend around. This information can be difficult to process for those who are religious or who have some opposition to same-sex marriage. For these people, it is important to give them as much time as they need. The more patient you are, the more likely it is they will accept it and move on.

Open Up to Them

Sometimes it can be easier for families if they know why you are coming out to them. Let them know that it is important to you for them to know who you really are. You probably don’t want to feel like you are hiding or sneaking around, so be sure to tell them that. When you are open with them, they are likely to be open with you. This can make the process easier.

Telling your family you’re gay can be a scary thought. Try to plan it well and be prepared to give it time if you don’t think your family will be too excited about that idea.