Coming out at school

[Guest Call me DEAN]

Ok. Here I am. I've told my friends, I've told my homies, I've told my parents and family. Now it's time to tell people at school. But there are just so many! I can't... bring myself to speak up. I'm shy, always been. I want to tell them and get over with it. But I don't want to speak up in front of the whole class, and I can't really go and tell each person individually. I am stressed as HELL. Damn, this is so hard, and I'm a huge wuss.

So I'm writing down the reasons I should tell them, hoping it will give me the courage boost I need.

1) I'll stop stressing and making worse case scenarios in my head.

2) If it goes wrong, I'll go take a bear with a friend who supports me.

3) I'll stop wincing internally each time I hear my name.

4) I'll have to tell them at some point, anyway. It's only a matter of time.

5) What am I? A coward? No, sir.

So there. Wish me luck.

Dean

[Guest Lupi]

Good luck mate!

[Carolyn Marie]

Coming out, especially to relative strangers, has its risks. You've listed all the reasons you should, and that's good. Have you thought about the reasons you shouldn't? I'm not trying to dissuade you, Dean. I just want you to understand the risks, as well as the rewards. Once its out, you can't take it back.

If you do come out to your school mates, I wish you all the luck in the world.

HUGS

Carolyn Marie

[Guest Eliza_S]

Dean, I think Carolyn Marie is right that there could be down sides as well to coming out at school. But if it's something you need to do, have you thought about talking to one of the administrative staff at your school, who could then tell your teachers for you so that you don't have to tell each one? Is there a counselor who specializes in non-academic issues? A stated interest in helping with GLBT students would be great, but anyone whose job is to help with emotional and psychiatric issues would probably be fine. At least if the administration and the teachers are on board in a positive way, you would have made a good start. And if you get extremely negative feedback at that level (I hope not!) it would at least be a warning about the mindset of the school as a whole. Just a thought, anyway.