Date: Tue, 10 May 1994 09:39:29 -0500 (EST)
>From: Justin <ERVINJ@steffi.uncg.edu>

Regarding Coming Out Should You or should you not:

1.  Ask yourself, what's going on at home right now?
	If things are good, you relationship is solid with your
	parents, you feel you have their unconditional support, fine.

	If you little sister just ran away from home, your folks are
	splitting up and the cat is pregnant again, now might not be
	the best time.

2.  Are you financially dependent upon them in any way?
	Tuition?  Car payments?  Housing?  Inheritance?
	What would happen if when you cut the apron strings,
	they cut the purse strings (with you holding the empty ends?)

3.  What are their views on homosexuality?
	Do they have any gay friends, colleges, relatives?
	Was you Aunt Pauline a lesbian spy in Paris during WW II?
	(Mine was).

	Do they think homosexuality is an illness, a sin, changeable, a choice?

	Do they think you will get AIDS, go to hell, turn your back on them?

4.  Many gay people come out to a close sibling before telling mom and dad.
	Mom and dad may have already discussed the possiblity of you being
	GLbi with them before.

5.  Try telling them about "a friend" who came out to their parents and see what	their reaction is.

6.  Call information and see if there is a local chapter of P-Flag near you.
	If not, I'm sure one of the good people on this network will probably
	post it or send it to your account upon request.

Keep in mind, parents are only human and humans are fallible.
Their first reaction may be emotion rather than rational.  There second
later reaction may be easier to deal with.  

Unsupportive parents are only regurgitating the same hogswill that was put
in their trough by "society."

Criminal: Society's to blame.

Policeman (to innocent bystander):Pardon me, are you a member of society?

Bystander: Uh, why yes.

Policeman: Come along with me, you're under arrest.

(From Monty Python)