When I was in HS a little over 10 years ago, people were still much more skeptical about homosexuality. It was still embarrassing to be falsely accused of being gay, and for some who were gay, not everyone was welcome to the idea. People weren't necessarily bullied, but it might have stopped others from getting to know them. Adults especially were unpredictable on how strongly they felt about it, and at the time it still seemed culturally okay to openly consider it a sin. I feel like the attitude toward sexuality has shifted drastically, and I do think that in time "coming out" won't really exist anymore, unless someone figures it out when they're 40 and decide to celebrate and let everyone know. Nowadays I feel like this generation doesn't feel the same pressure and fear about exploring, and doesn't necessarily feel as defined by those experiences. So less people are "coming out" and are rather just being.

My bff in HS was so afraid to come out to his family, and I remember convincing him his family would have no problems and probably already knew. (We were theater kids and he was a little flamboyant) He came out senior year to his mom first, and she was like "Oh honey I knew that since you were 5." Lol he's got a great family so there was never any doubt there, but it still wasn't unheard of for kids to be thrown out of the house and cut off in ultra religious and/or ignorant homes.