Wow, My niece just came out of the closet at age 16!

[Chicago Democrat]

I'm so proud..





What more could a gay uncle want from a niece. You've made me so happy!! HURRAY!!!

[Radio_Lady]

1. Boy, that's what I call "keeping it in the family" -- support her now!

(How are her parents taking it?)

[Chicago Democrat]

3. Oh its a secret from them still....

So far she has kissed a girl.


Its so cute its so innocent its very very sweet.

[Radio_Lady]

10. So --- is that really coming out of the closet? Not telling your folks?

Just kissed a girl? I did that at 16 and then went on to kiss boys. I'm heterosexual -- now not sure what you meant by this thread.

[libnnc]

11. sometimes the parents are the last to know

Some folks find it really hard to tell parents. I know I did.

[Chicago Democrat]

12. I am her gay uncle and she told me that she likes girls and I think

its very sweet and cute. But she is 15 years old! Her birthday is July 5 and she is coming to stay the night on July 3 after we see Bewitched. Then We are marching together in the July 4 parade with our local Democratic Candidate for US Congress Christine Cegelis and shes coming to visit this weekend and I think its very very very modern, liberal and so cute.


No no She kissed a girl so far.. did i say boy, wrong


ARe you kidding? I came out to my folk last... Common to come out to gay friends relatives first. Plus they are nutso homophobic...

[Radio_Lady]

25. I just didn't think, and when I did think -- I thought heterosexually --

Come to think of it, when I dated a boy and kissed him at 15, my parents were the last to know. Reason? He was an immigrant boy from Belgium, and they thought I was "too good" for him. So, your niece and I have somewhat parallel lives.

[illini]

2. Grats to you and your niece.

It is a good thing to know who you are.

[Chicago Democrat]

6. I want to tell everyone, but she made me not...I'm the only one who knows

in the family (her mom and dad are very homophobic)I so glad I came out to the children... I feel useful and very good I'm crying now.


So at least I can share with you my liberal brothers.

[libnnc]

4. Bless her heart!

Give her a big hug. I've been out since '89. Best thing I ever did.

[deadparrot]

5. Glad to know she's comfortable enough

to let her family and friends know who she really is. :)

Best of luck to her in the future.

[Chicago Democrat]

7. Just me in the family. and a few friends...

Promise you wont tell ok?


:)


Im so happy I could cry , ok I'm crying again.

[libnnc]

9. Secret's safe here.

It's great to know who's "family".

Special, special thing to be the first to know. It's an honor.

[Chicago Democrat]

15. It SO is and to know at age 16, she's one up on me and yes i feel

Amazingly honored that she confided in me.

And really helpful to be able to share it with you. I still can't believe it. Its not expected. We were gonna do this Democratic July 4 political march. Hopefully another Illinois Democratic Liberal FEMALE house pickup Christine Cegelis. And we are riding in the limo with her in the parade.

Anyway we IM all the time and she just told me tonight and I saved it forever .. 15 turing 16 and only kissed and its so sweet and innocent. I can't even remember 15. What an honor.

[deadparrot]

13. Won't say a word.

:)

But still, best of luck to her. She might have a tough road ahead of her.

[In Truth We Trust]

14. Make sure you give her the best advice possible and make her aware of all

the ramifications of her reality. Give her resource info, the truth about the good the bad and the ugly. Keep her best interests in mind and only HER best interests. The high suicide rate associated with teenagers is tough but it is compounded with homosexuality and the rate is even higher of course than hetero rates.

She needs love and support and she has entrusted you so I know you are in a unique position as a gay Uncle to guide her through reality.

I hope she is as brave and strong as she sounds and that she can share this with her parents someday if that is appropriate in her case. Furthermore I hope the first thing they do when and if that happens is that they reach out to her her with a loving embrace and tell her they love her and support her.

[Chicago Democrat]

17. She's determined to leave at age 18 and get apt with her girlfriend

(who isn't gay, they're just buddies) My god everything you said is so right. But for tonight I AM CELEBRATING! I'm happy!


I feel validated and very good about it. THREE CHEERS FOR her!

[SouthoftheBorderPaul]

19. Wow, that's really brave of her.

Sound slike she's def. got a good friend in her uncle!

[evlbstrd]

8. I found out from my son

that my best friends' daughter wants to come out. He told me she's afraid her dad would disown her. I told him, in all truth, that he would never do that, just be honest with him. My friend is a wise and caring father, and his girls lost their mother and he, his wife recently. Tough times need good people.

[Placebo]

16. I did it @ 13.

:) Yay for her though! :party:

[sasquatch]

18. Did her parents send her off to a "Reformist" camp like they did Zach

You know that kid in Tennessee.

[Chicago Democrat]

20. No, they will be the last to know... so sad , but they set it up that way

by making a very very homophobic view the "family approved" view. So of course she's not gonna tell them at all.


When I came out to them, I swear it wasnt intentional but whatever i'm gay, and it shows. Anyway my sister banned me from seeing them for a couple years until she finnaly allowed me to see them. JUST CAUSE IM GAY and the kids knew it too. So now I feel like that was to a good cause cause she can come out to me without fear.


And I can celebrate it with u all wow. Happy Gay Pride 2005/

[Arugula Latte]

21. Maybe if the parents realize that a gay person was raised

under their very roof, by two homophobes (namely themselves), a little bulb might go off and make them think, gee, maybe it's something people are BORN as.

We can hope.

[Floogeldy]

22. She's a minor

Is she really competent to make such a determination?

B-)

[libnnc]

23. Uh, I knew what the hell I was at 15...

and had to painfully keep it to myself until I turned 18. Besides, even if this young woman turns out to be "wrong" about it, at least she has someone to confide in who won't rat her out or freak out or make her life totally fucking miserable.

Your teen years are supposed to be the years where you figure out who you are and explore ALL possibilities, right? I rejoice that she has a safe outlet in a family member who won't second guess her.

[Chicago Democrat]

24. good point, perhaps her parents should put her in a cage

or maybe a what are those things...

Oh yes


A medieval CHASTITY BELT


that's the ticket!

[Ilsa]

26. I'm glad that she's such a self-aware teenager.

Good for her. I only wish her the best. I'm glad she has you to turn to for support. :pals:

[grace0418]

27. Oh, good for her! And it's wonderful that she has the

support of her family. That makes such a huge difference!

[Chicago Democrat]

28. Big time never had that myself, nor

did many of my contemporaries.


Progress.


Slow progress.

[Rhiannon12866]

29. Seems young to me, but what do I know?!

At that age, I would have had no idea what that meant, LOL! But times have changed and kids learn things much earlier. She is very fortunate to have your support. Kudos to both of you.:hi:

[NMMNG]

30. Hooray!!!!

Seriously, I think it's great she felt comfortable enough to do this. I never came out to my family because I knew they'd have a hissy fit.

Hooray for your niece!!!:woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: