Be Prepared
When you’re ready to tell people, make sure you’re as prepared as you can be and think through your options.
You can get an indication of how accepting people are about LGBT issues by listening to their reactions whenever LGBT issues are mentioned in a conversation they are involved in. If their reactions are positive, you are generally able to take that to mean that they will be more accepting of you.
Some reactions will be based on stereotypes, so don’t be surprised by some of the questions which they might put to you.
Think about how you want to word your coming out – do you want to say, “I think I might be gay,” or “I’m attracted to people of the same sex,” – sometimes practicing in your head can help you.
If you choose to tell someone remember that it will take them time to process the information, be patient with them. You chose to tell them because you care about them, if they react strongly it’s because they care about you as well.
Don’t forget that there is support; you don’t have to go through this alone. At Royal Holloway, you can speak to Jamie, Sally or to the Counselling Service.
