So. I’m planning on coming out to my parents next week. It’s a decision I’ve thought over a ton and Im confident that I’m finally ready. The only problem is- what do I even say?

To start, the journey of acceptance for me has been a… rocky one. In middle school I had a girlfriend. However I’ve never really felt any romantic attraction towards women. Nonetheless I tried. And when I inevitably broke up with the girl I was dating at the time- she outed me to my parents. My parents were naturally confused. And somewhat pissed at this- not necessarily because I claimed I was gay, but because I apparently broke that girls heart. I was thirteen at the time. For about a year after this I didn’t have a phone (parents believed it was the internet-) moved out of public schooling (not necessarily their fault as Covid started around this time- however t was their decision to forget to enroll me in public school again despite my asking for years after lol), and taken to church at 2x the rate I had been before.

Now then. It’s been five years. I’m 18, and a manager at our local McDonald’s (not a prestigious position but I’m making above minimum wage and my parents are impressed so that’s what matters here lol) I’ve spent the past five years hiding and repressing my sexuality out of fear that my parents were correct, and that I was in fact “groomed” by the leftist agenda. I was not. Which brings me here. I can’t hide what I am anymore it’s not fair to me, my friends, or my family. And so I ask- what do I say? How do I show them that I’m not just a confused kid anymore? How do I explain that I’ve not changed, despite the fact that they believe I have. That I’ve really, really tried and hid what I am from them for so long not to disappoint them.

Any help is welcome, and I’m more than happy to answer any questions below. Thank you.