Pocket book on coming out for LGBTI+ clients (Handout)
- Coming out is a personal decision: there’s no right or wrong way to do it, it’s completely up to you and your relationship with who you might share it. There are lots of different ways: talk in person, phone call, an e-mail, text, a letter etc.
- What is your preferred way of coming out to relevant others?
- Does it differ concerning the person you want to come out to?
- What would you expect from the one to whom you come out?
- What would you like to say to someone you want to come out to?
- Who do I feel safe and comfortable sharing about my life with? Who is always by my side?
- Remember if you ever tested someone to whom you wanted to come out about their attitudes about LGBT people.
- What was the way you searched for someone’s opinion about LGBT people?
- Did you present them LGBT celebrity or watch Prideon TV?
- Did you find out how they feel about LGBT people adopting or having children? Did you search for their attitudes about marriage equality? Have you ever paid attention to their stereotypes about LGBT people and words they use when talking about LGBT people?
- There is no perfect time or space to come out. Coming out is a lifelong process and it depends on whom you want to tell. Sometimes it takes more time to talk in person. Sometimes it happens spontaneously. Sometimes you have to feel confident and secure to do it: it is important to do it whenever it feels right for you.
- Think about what time and place works best for me to come out? Would I rather be in a public or a private space during that? Is my home a safe place to come out?
- Are there some confidentiality and safety preconditions to think about before coming out?
What time works best for the person I want to come out to? Are we comfortable to talk in public places or at home? Is there some special location for coming out to someone close to me?
