There's a difference between keeping things on a need-to-know basis and being in the closet. If someone asks if you're gay and you say "yes" or tell them that's none of their business, it's different than saying "no" (when you are gay) or trying to keep it secret.
The only reason to need to stay in the closet is for the sake of self-preservation, whether in terms of personal safety or relationships. If you're staying in the closet just for the hell of it...

If you live in an Islamic Fundamentalist country....


Also being closeted is a personal choice , any reasons valid if it is your own.

I do it for a lot of reasons. The big one is family. I already know exactly how my family (immediate and exteneded) will react and at this point in my life, I don't want to deal with it. I don't want to deal with the rejection, the lectures, the preaching, any of it. Second is friends. A lot of my friends wouldn't be friends with me and I don't want to deal with that either. Third is safety. Fourth is discrimination, which kind of ties into safety. I think all of these are valid.

This. I don't buy into it, randomly announcing that I'm gay. I mean, my personal qualities and interests make it sort of clear without my saying anything, and I'm not even remotely fem. I don't hide who I am, and I don't pretend to be straight. So, what, just because I haven't explicitly said "I'm a homosexual", I'm somehow 'hiding' in some closet?

Some people don't have gaydar and don't read into stereotypes so easily. You have a masculine personality despite your interests. I have plenty of stereotypically gay interests, very few "straight" interests and I have never had a girlfriend, but my parents were still shocked when I came out to them. So I guess it's a question of full disclosure.

Do you plan on letting your parents know if you have a boyfriend? And what about your friends? You don't feel like you're hiding something if you have a best friend you share everything with by not telling them that?

Honestly I regret fully coming out, I wish I just came out to those around me who I am close to. I don't like that people that I don't talk to or even see know and talk about me being gay. Like not ashamed of them knowing, but if someone knows one thing about me, it being that I am gay doesn't make sense to me.

Yes, I would tell them if I have a boyfriend. Most of my friends, too. Or if somebody that I knew well asked me.

But definitely not my best friend. Mormon.

it actually makes the sexuality thing seem worse. just be normal with it. if your family asks, say yes.

Sexuality is something private, but it's not something you have to hide and deny

Cosign 100%. But...




I also agree with this, creating an obvious confliction of philosophy lol. I guess what it all boils down to is that my sexuality is such a miniscule and natural part of me that despite my failure as of yet to proclaim publicly my gayness, I don't feel I'm in anyones closet. In fact, to tell the truth I'm annoyed by the notion that gay people need, or are expected to make some grand announcement in regards to our sexuality, as if its some earth shattering affair.

But, on the other hand just bringing a guy around without first "coming out" would be a mess ,so I figure I'll conform sooner or later.