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. I started noticing my friends instead. 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 alot from it. My friends were really there through the whole thing and I've gotten alot of praise from them.

Today
Now I've been out for like 2 years and I'm completely comfortable with it. 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.