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Over the past couple of years there have been numerous posts similar to Jazzboy's with reference to being in the closet and whether to come out. I checked out some resources both local (yea jazzboy I'm LA too except I graduated from Uni Hi before you were born) and national. Living a life where one has to wear a constant mask and when one has no one that they can just be themselves with and be honest and open not only has to be frustrating but causes so many of our gay youth to feel that they are all alone. YOUR NOT - There are probably 30 or 40 million gays and lesbians in the United States and for every one of us, there is a unique story about our youth, our adolescence, our young adulthood and how we handled our homosexuality both within ourselves and in dealing with our parents and friends. Everyone of us has been through the trials and tribulations of dealing with not only our sexual identity but societies prejudices in regards to homosexuality. So your not alone and every adult gay male is testimony to the fact that ultimately you will overcome the confusion, the feeling of being alone and the FEAR that you may now be feeling. Those of you in your teens or young adulthood are much more fortunate then the preceding generations. When I was going through the same questions and confusion that come with the territory of puberty but are even more terrifying to a teen who questions his sexual identity, there were no published resources to get answers. There was no internet, no message boards, no gay newspapers and gay life for the most part was an underground affair. I guess there were gay bars but that didn't do much good to a 13 yo or 14yo wondering if he was the only one in the whole world with those feelings. So in many ways your lucky - The information is now available and through the internet you are only a click away from meeting other gays. THERE IS NO REASON ANYMORE FOR YOU TOO EVER FEEL YOU ARE ALL ALONE!!

Different individuals have different ideas on coming out and to what degree. Some feel a need to declare their sexuality to the world. Others hide it best they can throughout their entire life's. Then there are many who feel that if they were a heterosexual they would not carry around a large sign stating that "I'm Straight" and they see no reason to publicly advertise the fact that they are Gay. Yet if asked most who are in this category tell the truth - although it really is nobodies business what you do in your bedroom other then yours and the person in bed with you. I fall into this last category - My close friends both straight and obviously those that are gay are aware of my orientation. There have been many who have posted their concern that they will lose a friend(s) if they find out that they are gay. I think those people are confusing acquaintances with true friends. Most people will be able to count a lifetime of true friends on the fingers of both hands. True friendship STANDS THE TEST OF TIME - that means even if separated for years when you get together its a hug and it's as if no time has passed. A True friend will be there for you whatever your problem is and certainly would not desert you over your sexual identity. My attitude about the whole thing (and it is easier for me to have this attitude then somebody who still has to deal with their peers in a high school environment) is - I'M ME, and if asked I'M GAY, and you can either like me for who I am or you can damn well fuck off cause enough people do. But whatever a persons attitude is in reference to coming out or not coming out - if it is right for them - then it is right. Keep in mind and this is especially true for those of you in high school where prejudice and adolescent peer pressure are still part of your every day existence - DO NOT JEOPARDIZE YOUR PHYSICAL WELL BEING - IF YOUR SCHOOL IS KNOWN FOR THIS KIND OF BEHAVIOR - THEN BE EXTRMELY CAUTIOUS AS TO WHO YOU OUT YOURSELF TOO - SIMPLE FACT IS IT COULD MAKE THE REST OF YOUR HIGH SCHOOL YEARS VERY DIFFICULT - IT SHOULDN'T BE THAT WAY AND MANY SCHOOLS HAVE MADE TREMENDOUS PROGRESS IN EDUCATING THEIR STUDENTS TOWARDS UNDERSTANDING AND ACCEPTANCE - BUT THEY ARE STILL THE EXCEPTION - HOPEFULLY SOON IGNORANCE WILL BE THE EXCEPTION NOT ENLIGHTENMENT.

Jazzboy, I am including a couple of local resources that you might want to check out and see if there are any youth groups happening in your area. It is entirely up to you but you might find it kinda refreshing to meet some teens that are going through the same thing you are. You might just find a meeting where you can just be you, no mask no cover-ups just being yourself and listening to others trying to do the same thing.

Yeppers this was going to be a short post ah well you know the duck he can say in 1000 words what others can in 100 :)

This is a site I recently found with tons of
resources and information available well worth checking out
The Cool Page For Queer Teens
Resources for Gay, Lesbian,
Bisexual and Transgender Youth...
http://www.bidstrup.com/cool.htm

Another site that I just found that is youth orientated
and has all kinds of info and fun stuff available
for the gay teenager and young adult
JOEY.COM
(World Wide Web Site)
11901 Santa Monica Boulevard, #598
Los Angeles, CA 90025
Phone: 1-310-964-5352
Fax: 1-310-388-1139
Email: david@joeymag.com
Web: http://www.joey.com

Last a local resource for the Los Angeles Area
They have been in the business of helping gays for 30 years
I really think you should check them out jazzboy and at least find out
whether there are any gay youth groups in your area
You have nothing to loose -
Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center
(Community Center)
1625 North Schrader Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90028-9998
Phone: 1-213-993-7600
Helpline: 1-800-773-5540
Fax: 1-213-993-7699
TDD: 1-213-993-7698
Email: info@laglc.org
Web: http://www.laglc.org/

I hope that some of this information is of assistance and although often we seem to find it very difficult to