Outed by Facebook
Our story begins some time last year. I came out of my house in the morning to go to work, to notice a large dent in the wheel arch of my car parked across the street. Evidently someone who was turning in the road, probably to use the postbox by my house, had pranged my car and decided that they were above leaving their details to arrange recompense.

Anyway, I arrive at work still seething, and decided to vent my spleen by posting a Facebook note complete with photos. As my rant built up to a crescendo I suggested that I was fed up with this country and would be looking to leave for Australia or Canada and invited comments and suggestions on that subject.

Now, my friends instead decided to start suggesting that I'd enjoy the view over the Aussie beaches of all the hot guys in speedos, or all the strapping mounties in Canada etc. As one of the gays I consider myself fair game for such comments, but I'd forgotten an important point. Facebook isn't limited to my geeky friends; and whilst I don't consider myself in the closet, I'd not quite worked out how to start the conversation with either of the sets of parents instead opting for the spineless option of waiting until they mentioned it.

So, I was somewhat mortified when this reply to my friends replies appeared on my note:

Friend #1
Canada is full of strapping Mounties

Friend #2
Canada and Australia both are much better sources of "hot men" than here in the UK but at the same time it would be sad to see you leave :(

Friend #3
... Try netherlands I hear they have blonde boys ;)

Stepmum
Joe! Is there anything you want to tell us?

Me (by private message response)
Want to tell you? No not really. Should really tell you? yeah...

So there we go; I was outed to my parents by social networking sites.

EPILOGUE: It transpired that they'd suspected as much but didn't want to ask me because they didn't think it was really their business. It probably doesn't help that I'm comparitively butch (or at least I don't run around in pink hot pants screaming and flailing my arms around). They're very cool about it all and everything is good. Yay for cool parents!
(Joey[kins], Fri 12 Sep 2008, 9:27, 5 replies)

My friend
Was outed by an email, her rents found it in an old account and it didn't intially go so well, her parents were very upset and her mum didn't take it too well. Her sister was very supportive and it all worked out in the end. She could be herself and introduce her partner to them. So worked out well in the end.

Another friend had the "conversation" with his mum. He was really neverous and it took a lot of courage.

The conversation went a little like this.

Him "Erm mum i have something to say.... i am gay"
her "I know"
Him "How long have you known"
Her "A while"
Him "Why did you tell me"
Her "I thought you knew"

She is cool with it and he is a lot happier being out, i saw the change and it was brilliant. Every 6 months or so she will asked, meet any nice girls, he responds "No mum i am gay" and she just says "Oh well worth asking".
(StyX is staring at you, yes YOU!!!, Fri 12 Sep 2008, 9:42, closed)

Glad to hear it went ok
this reply is quality too
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Fri 12 Sep 2008, 9:49, closed)

.
"Yay for cool parents!"

Indeed. (Prob should've changed back to my usual profile before saying that)

Nice little story. Have a click.
(josef fritzl is sporting the spring/summer '09 folder look, Fri 12 Sep 2008, 11:04, closed)

Cool parents
Indeed. Glad things worked out well for you. I have a friend who went through hell after telling his conservative christian parents that he was gay.

Have a click for your parents :)
(ComplexStuff Was confused by life on, Fri 12 Sep 2008, 11:27, closed)

clicky for you!
My mum was initially cool about it then she became a born again Christian, now its really uncomfortable whenever we're on holiday together and often have to skirt the issue to prevent any major bustups.
(Marmoset Bored bored bored of cnuting revision..., Tue 16 Sep 2008, 11:53, closed)