Some of the most difficult and important decisions in the lives of gay, lesbian or bisexual people surround "coming out"_ that is, deciding to be honest and open about our sexual orientation. The fact that you are holding this booklet is a sign that you may be questioning your sexual orientation or you know someone who is doing so. This booklet aims to answer some of those questions and refer you to other helpful resources.
Gay people are everywhere, and every day, more of us are deciding to live honestly. This is critically important to our community because the only way we will stop the discrimination we face is to reveal our true selves to our friends, our families and our neighbors. National polls have shown that people who know someone who is lesbian or gay are far more likely to support equal rights for all gay people. So in effect, coming out may be one small step for a gay man or lesbian but it contributes to the giant leap we are making for all gay people, today and in the future.
If you are thinking hard about whether and how you should come out, you're probably wondering, "What is this going to do to my life? Will my family accept me, will my friends still like me? How do I know if this is the right thing to do?" These are all valid questions and you are not the first person _ nor will you be the last _ to struggle with them. But it's my fervent hope that just as the earliest gay activists paved the way for me, today's lesbian, gay and bisexual leaders are helping to make life easier for you.
Let me assure you that while being an openly lesbian, gay or bisexual person in this society isn't easy, it is so much more gratifying than being in the closet. Lying and hiding, worrying that someone will discover your secret, consumes a lot of personal energy and detracts from the quality of a person's life. No one should be denied the opportunity to thrive and flourish as a full human being because his or her sexual orientation is different from that of the majority.
Our community has come a long way in the decades since the rebellion at the Stonewall Inn _ which began the modern gay rights movement _ but it still has a long way to go. And this booklet can't give you all the answers about the coming out process but it will give you some. And then it will point you toward other resources that can help you as you grapple with the life-altering and potentially life-enhancing decision to come out.