Is This Your First Time Home As A Gay Man?

Out At Home

Is this your first trip home as an out gay man? Are you ready to deal with your straight cousins, the football game blaring from the TV and innuendos and jokes about your sexuality? Navigate your way through home life as the only gay man in the room.

Be Yourself
It's not the most comfortable situation being the only gay guy in the room. We've all been "the only one" at one time or another, even around family. Be yourself. Everyone else is being themselves. Even if you feel as if you can't fully relate to everyone in the room, make an attempt to interact. You won't always be successful, but that should not stop you from attempting to make a connection.

Communicate
Part of making a connection and feeling more comfortable in a non-gay home environment is by communicating how you feel. Let the family members who you are closest to know how you feel when come home. They might not know that you feel alienated and uncomfortable. Talk to them and express ways they can help you feel more comfortable.

Speak Up
People only respect you as much as you respect yourself. Sometimes you have to establish boundaries in order to wield that respect. Is your brother slinging gay jokes or is everyone else free to talk about their partners except for you? You have a right, as a member of the family, to be respected and to contribute to the conversation equally. Express your willingness to entertain their stories and how they should respect yours as well. Let them know that by making gay jokes, they are disrespecting who you are. Keep in mind, however, that you don't have to be rude to demand respect. Be firm, encourage them to be open and most importantly, be yourself.