Tips to Keep in Mind for Coming Out
The closet can be a very comfortable place to hide, especially in our society.  No one can make you come out of it before you are ready.  Even if you have told someone about your sexual preference, you may not be ready for the world to know.  So, in the process of coming out, take your time and make sure to be comfortable with the level of exposure you are allowing.  Keep in mind though, that you should never be ashamed of something that makes you, you…so why are you hiding?  True friends will always be there for you and your family, well; in most cases they don’t have a choice.  On a more serious note, here are some steps that may be helpful:

1. Make sure you have come out to yourself: This means that you must accept yourself before anyone else will.  If you are not comfortable with your sexuality, then no one else will be.  Remember that sexual orientation is part of who you are, but not all of it.  Coming out and being openly homosexual does not change who you are.  You don’t have to label yourself at all, it is possible to take your sexuality day by day.

2. Figure out whom will be the most supportive: Coming out isn’t easy, so why make it harder?  After accepting your own sexual preference, it may be easiest to come out to other GLBT.  You already know that you will be accepted and it is a good transition audience.  Just knowing that you are not alone can give you the confidence to be open about you sexuality.  The most important thing to remember is that your friends love you for who you are, and not your sexual preference.

3. Coming Out to Straight Friends and Family: The best advice here is to hope for the best and be prepared for everything else.  Naturally, announcing your different sexual preference can come as a shock to those who know you.  Make sure to take the other person into consideration. 

Try to make the person understand that homosexuality is so much more than sexual attraction.  It involves all of the same thoughts, fears and feelings of a heterosexual relationship.

Coping with Someone Who Comes Out To You
First, see above.  When someone is coming out, consider all the steps that they are taking.  He or she clearly values your opinion, your friendship and your advice.  If someone respects you enough to be honest with you about who he or she is, then you must respect him or her enough to be honest.  Explain how it makes you feel and give forth a strong effort to adapt to the news.  Friends and family are supposed to love unconditionally – that is what separates them from acquaintances.  It is with that in mind that you must understand the sexual preference of your loved one.  Support him or her, when facing others.

How does your loved one’s sexual preference influence you: It is hard to be supportive when you don’t understand something.  But, unless you are in love with someone when they come out to you, how much does their sexuality really affect you?  If it makes you uncomfortable right away, then you can ask the person to give you some time to adjust.  Meanwhile, you can do things with him or her that don’t confront the issue of sexual orientation until you are ready to talk about it.

Is there anything else that is different: Aside from sexual preference, what is it that has changed?  Nothing.  Your friend or family member still has all of the qualities that you love.  He or she will still be funny, or understanding or fun to hang out with.

Everyone is different: There is not one completely normal person on this planet by society’s standards.  Everyone has something or does something that others judge.  Think about what it is that sets you apart from the majority and think about how it helped when others embraced it.  Now, repay the favor.

Dealing with Religion and Sexual Orientation
One of the issues at the forefront of alternate lifestyles is the question of religion and sexuality.  To what extent can religion dictate who you are allowed to love (especially in light of recent events).  No one can say for sure who is right and who is wrong, or even if there is a right and wrong.  If you are religious and are worried about, or having problems aligning your religious life and your sexual preference – remember the following:

Dealing with Hate Crimes and Discrimination
Hate crimes committed against gays, lesbians, and bisexuals make up the third-highest category of hate crimes reported to the FBI.  These figures may be underestimated because people are not always willing to report hate crimes against them.  As long as there are differences in the world, there is the risk of discrimination.  The following are some ways to avoid or deal with hate crimes and discrimination: