Gay & sexuality facts
Coming out and what it is like once you are out there; the fundamentals are all here.
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When reading horizontally from Shakespeares original published copy of Hamlet, the furthest left hand side reads I am a homosexual in the last 14 lines of the book. Was this a message, or just a coincidence?
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Although Hitler did condemn homosexual acts, he only condemned them between men. Lesbians were not condemned at all. They were rarely (if any at all) sent to concentration camps, because it was not in the laws written by Hitler to condemn women loving other women.
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Coming out is the phrase used to describe the process of someone who is gay, lesbian or bisexual being open with the people around you about you sexuality or gender identity.
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Coming out can be a difficult process for people and you may be worried that others will treat you differently once they know.
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Even though it can be scary, most people feel coming out is important as it means you can be honest about how you feel and not keep an important part of your life hidden.
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One of the first steps of coming out is acknowledging to yourself what your sexual preference is. This may sound really obvious, but for lots of people admitting to themselves that they are gay, bisexual or lesbian can be hard for many reasons.
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Admitting being gay can be hard because you may have been brought up to think that being gay is wrong, or because you are worried about being teased or bullied.
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If youre not sure if youre gay, lesbian or bisexual, you may find it helpful to talk to someone you trust about your feelings.
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When youre first coming out the most sensible option is to tell someone who you trust and who will be supportive and understanding.
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It will help if they are someone who can keep a secret, as you may not want other people finding out before you feel comfortable about your sexuality or gender identity.This person could be a close friend or relative. Or if youre younger, it could be a trusted adult, such as a teacher or youth worker.
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Hopefully, coming out will change your life for the better, as you wont feel theres a big part of you that people dont know about.
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Many people say they feel relieved that they can be open about how they feel.
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There can be a downside to coming out. You may come across people, including friends and family, who are homophobic (prejudiced against gay, lesbian and bisexual people) and they might make you uncomfortable or upset. You might experience discrimination.This is why it can be helpful to tell a small group of trusted people first. That way you will feel supported and have people to talk to about the reactions you may face.
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Remember, if youre not sure how you feel about your sexuality or gender identity, theres no hurry to make your mind up or tell people.
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Coming out is an individual decision and its important to do it in your own way and in your own time.
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If you have lesbian, gay or bisexual sex you can still get or pass on STIs. You still need to know about contraception.
