The Beginning
I guess I first started thinking that I was gay around age 12. I was just starting puberty and noticied all of my friends starting to become attracted to members of the opposite sex. That never really happened for me. At the time it wasn't anything that I understood, though, and it wasn't like a conscious decision. I never really knew anyone in real life who was gay and the only examples of gay people that I saw were on television and they were extremely stereotypical (i.e. The Birdcage and Mrs. Doubtfire).

Destroying the stereotype
It wasn't until I came to college that I met the first actual real person, my age, that was gay and comfortable enough to talk about it. One thing really shocked me about him -- he was completely normal. You wouldn't see him walking around and know he was gay; but he was. At first, I was really shocked and uncomfortable. But, eventually, I realized that it really is acceptable and normal to be gay. After all the times I had secretly asked myself, "Am I gay?", I finally had an answer: yes.

Coming Out
The first person I admitted it to was the same person who sat with me on a bench outside our dorm at Georgia Tech and told me he was gay. I was really nervous about finally admitting it, but I did it in an email, so it made it easier. A few days later I came out to my roommate, then to my close friends. A couple months latr, I had come out to my parents. I did it really quickly and fairly foolishly, but I learned a lot from it. My friends were really there through the whole thing and I've gotten alot of praise from them.

Today
This was back in 1997 when I first came out so things are different nowadays. My parents have made miles of progress and they're now very accepting. Everything is better; it just look a while. If you have more questions or wish to help in the fight for gay rights, check out some of these GLB resources.