Medea’s Child – maybe i’m just a sap, but that post actually made me cry 
thank you
andygirl – excellent advice, i hadn’t really considered the time element… it was just the next time i am going home. i suppose i will have to wait and suffer through the relatives inquiring about any current boyfriends… ::sigh:: i think i’ll manage.
<3 Birdie
Yay, another coming out experiences discussion. This is actually a fave bonding method amongst the queer community.
Anyway.
I’ve never actually come out by plonkingly saying “I’m gay” to anyone except my parents. With family, it’s more like a wedding announcement: you should know this so you can stay up to date with personal developments.
With everyone else, it’s sort of insinuated itself into the conversation, by the usual methods: correct gender pronouns, mentioning queer activism, and whatnot.
One funny story is when I was having dinner with my dad and one of his friends. The friend asked me if I had a girlfriend, and I was going, “Um…” trying to prepare my comeback, when Dad helpfully piped up, “Matt’s gay!” I turned to my dad and said, “You have just ruined my surprise!”
Birdie, thanks. I learned that lesson a hard, hard way. I, too, am the Perfect Daughter…in a non traditional way. It took me a year to figure out that my parents still love me. That they were still proud of me. That I was still the Perfect Daughter to them. That I was still a memeber of the family in good standing.
And that knowledge, when I found it, did make me cry.
I’m not saying that they will fall all overthemselves to welcome your gf to the family. But they cannot rule out the knowledge that you are a great person and thier great daughter.
Wow, someone’s been playing Dr. Frankenstein!
Birdie, I tend to agree with Andygirl’s assessment; coming out over the Holidays can been extra stressful.
If you do decide to do it, pick the right time. I would wait 'til after Thanksgiving meal, when everone is in a mellow mood. Take your parents off into a side room and give them the news there.
You also might try to remember how they’ve handled the subject of homosexuality in general so you can get an idea of who they’ll react.
Best of luck to you!