[SERIOUS] Gay people of Reddit. When you told your parents you were gay, how did they react? What did they do that you thought was good? What did they do that you thought was bad?

I had a slightly different experience than most. I told my Dad first, and then I told my Mom about a year later. I was extremely lucky because neither of them reacted negatively.

When I told my Dad, he just sort of nodded his head while I was talking. And when I finished he told me that he had known for a while because I acted a little different than most guys, I often gave guys second looks and I rarely noticed girls, and I never had any girlfriends during high school. He also asked me questions about things I experienced and to clarify some of the stereotypes he had. Overall, it was a really good conversation considering that he came from a pretty conservative family. But he's always been more of a thinker, so his reaction didn't surprise me. And over time he has shifted his religious views and has no issue with my sexuality. He says that he isn't willing to believe that being gay is bad when I've insisted that I didn't consciously choose to be gay. Such a great dad, really :D

I told my mom around Christmas of that same year. I told her over text which was kinda bad, and she just told me that she still loved me no matter what. Over the next year, it took her some time to adjust. If I pointed out that I thought such and such was attractive, she would give me a weird look and tell me to stop. She also viewed it as a "sin," but she thought it was wrong to be judgmental of it. She would say things like "How is your sin (me being gay) any different than any other sin? And who is in a position to judge?" She meant well, and so I just took it in stride. Eventually she got to a point where she didn't even see it as a sin and is really cool about it too.

Here's what my parents did well: - They reaffirmed their love and acceptance of me. This is key, and if any of you have a child that comes out, regardless of how surprised you are, this should be one of your first responses. Depending on the family, coming out can make a person feel very vulnerable and nervous - make them feel safe and secure. - They listened and asked questions. Take what your kid has to say to heart. And ask questions if you aren't sure of something.

In terms of what my parents did bad, I don't have much to say. Yes, it took them some time to adjust and fully understand. Can I fault them for that? No, not really. They grew up in a different time and in conservative families. The fact that they could effortlessly accept and love me regardless of the discomfort that my sexuality might have given them initially is a testament to how awesome they are as parents. And I'm super grateful for that.

/r/AskReddit Thread