I think coming out is one of the most difficult yet often over-rated parts about being gay. For some, it is a truly liberating experience, and the effect it has on your close friends and family is fantastic. I've heard a number of my friends tell me how worried they were about coming out, and how they feared other people would react. But after they got it off their chest, they were just worried about nothing. For example, take my friend L's experience: (I'm not making this up at ALL!)

L: Mum, Dad, I have something important to tell you.
Mum: Oh god...you're pregnant!
L: Er, no. I'm gay...
Dad: Oh! Well yea, we already knew!
L: Oh, er...okay... *family hug*

Don't get me wrong though, for some people coming out has been the hardest thing they've done, often leading to arguments, being thrown out of the house, and what not. And being outed by someone else when you didn't ask for it is another issue. Just yesterday on a forum I moderate, a member outed another member - his 'apparent' best friend. As much as I would have loved to leave the message and observe the ensuing fued, I decided to get rid of the message alltogether. Simply because, I wouldn't like to be outed on a public forum like that, even if it was done by a 'best friend'. And best friends like that I can do without, thank you very much.

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