Hi Guys , I was just wondering where do you need to go to get some writing put onto this website.

and also

I'm having real trouble hiding my homosexuality from my parents , can i have advice on this and when is an appropriate time to tell them.

John

Hey dude

The best place to go is eFiction

Log in on the left hand side (use your GA info), click "Account Info" (also on the left) then "Add new story" and just follow the on screen prompts and stuff till you're good to go.

If you need further assistance let me know, or contact someone on the tech team. Joe, apart from being able to help you with the tech issues, would also be the one to talk to regarding getting author status and an author tag (which isn't required but it's helpful ).



I'm sorry you're having a tough time

I'm afraid I really can't answer that question because it will totally depend on you, your parents, and your situation. How do you think they would take the news? How are they on gay issues in general? Have you come out to anyone else?

Here's a helpful link regarding coming out to parents: OutProud

It's also good to have resources and things available FOR your parents, to help them deal with it. I strongly recommend PFLAG for that, they can also usually help YOU out with emotional support and advice and stuff. I have no idea how strong or useful the organization is in the UK, but here's a link to their affiliate site.

In general, it's good to have people in your life that you know will offer you a support network, that's why if you are out to anyone else, it'll be good to be able to talk to them about this, especially if your parents have a tough time with it at first. On the other hand, if you think your parents will take the news well, then obviously they're some of the best emotional support and confidants you can get!

But yeah, in general it depends on your situation and your parents.

Good luck and take care!
-Kevin

Acctually when you go to eFiction your going have to create an account. But from there you should be able to log in and upload your writing. If you have any questions regarding eFiction give me a shout.

Steve

One way to probe your parents' feelings on the subject is to watch fox news for a while. They're bound to come up with a gay-related news story and typically paint gays in a negative light. Disagree vocally with your TV in your parents presence, then look at them. See if you can get their opinion not just of the specific news subject, but of gays in general. Converse a bit. Find reasons to breach the subject several times over the course of a couple months and explore their opinions until you think you have a good feel for how they will react to learning you are gay.

If you're still not comfortable with how you think they'll react or if you have reason to think they will react negatively, tell them nothing about yourself. In a couple years you'll be 18 and can move far away to college or if college isn't your thing you can still find a full time job and get yourself an apartment to live on your own. Once you're financially independent you can tell them with the only reprecussions being whether you maintain a good relationship with them, rather than the possible curtailing of your freedom or homelessness. On the other hand if you have reason to believe they will not react negatively then go ahead and tell them if thats what you want to do.

I would also reccommend you read the first three stories in the Do Over saga by Dan Kirk. Its science fiction but there's also a great deal of relevant social commentary in the mix concerning gay issues and family.

Well personally speaking I disagree with this advice. It's definitely good to feel your parents out to see how they might react, but I think that doing something as blunt and vocal as the above might 'tip you hand' to them before you're ready, which may be a bad thing if there is a chance they'll react badly.

Besides all that, I personally think that people who are first handling their sexuality need to do their best to put themselves in as positive and affirming an environment as possible with regards to their sexuality. In other words I'd rather you not listen to something very negative and hostile to gays.

However, I think the general advice is very good. Definitely do what you can to find out your parents' likely reaction and that may indeed include subtly dwelling/elaborating on the topic of homosexuality when it does come up naturally. I'd just advocate that subtlety and also as I said focusing on keeping yourself in a more affirming environment. To be honest if your parents don't approve, I think my preference would be for you not to have to listen to any extra rants or criticisms until you've had a good long time to get comfortable and used to the idea of being gay.


Just my opinions though

Good luck!
Kevin

Kevin, that is definitely correct. One of the reasons why coming out was so difficult for me was due to the fact that I was raised to believe that it was wrong. The negativity makes the process a lot more painful than it should be. Thus, whenever it is possible, remove yourself from that and find a more positive influence. For me, the only way to do it was 1) tune it out and 2) avoid going to church services whenever I can which was most of the time once I was no longer a minor.

Added: I don't think all churches are bad, but there are some that are less than friendly towards the GLBT community. Those are the ones to avoid.

LOL, glad you added that disclaimer, Tim!

My own church is terrific and very affirming of gays

Indeed, I've been sick the last couple of weeks and I've really regretted not being able to attend services

Well, I suggested what worked for me

Though it may have tipped my hand, so to speak, and my dad put two and two together between my "secretiveness" and having occasionally broached that subject that I was thinking I could be gay, it also gave him time to prepare himself as well and it worked out pretty well when he eventually confronted me.