Some people are not meant to be parents, and some of those people are our parents.
Matt: Can you have a discussion with your parents about your desires and fears over the "coming out to the whole family" issue?
It's interesting. To me, the whole thing about coming out to my parents has been one of those llllooooooonnnnnngggg processes. the hardest words were between me and my mom. None, really, with Dad. Mom tells me it was very hard on him, but sometimes she lies/projects about that kind of stuff. I'm sure it was hard for him, but maybe not as much as she says.
It was clearly hard on her.
Not my responsibility.
Anyway: I don't know how many people in my mom's side of the family know I'm gay. I am relatively sure that she didn't tell them. Some of them know, for sure. As a matter of fact, I told an uncle by marriage on her side (this guy since divorced from my aunt) before I told my parents. He immediately told his wife (my aunt) without telling me he was going to. (I was really close to this guy, and no longer speak with him, which really isn't entirely my doing, but a satisfactory state of affairs for me). All three of my cousins in that family know.
Another aunt, by marriage, sent out an email once a couple of years back with a pretty awful anti-gay joke, and I sent back a reply to EVERYBODY on the large recipient list of the email, as well as everyone else that was in my addresses list at the time, clearly saying I'm gay, this offends me, and don't send shit like this to me again. So all HER kids know.
That leaves just one other aunt and uncle and their kids, and I'm pretty sure they know, but since we've never discussed it openly, there's still a little doubt.
But there was a lot of homophobia.
Anyway, my parents and I haven't gotten to the point, yet -- 17 years on! -- where I can really talk with them about how I would like them to be around the topic with other family members. On my dad's side, also, some know; but i'm not sure how many.
I think it would be great if your situation with your family was "better" than mine with my family. Maybe it won't be! Ignorance, bigotry, and fear die hard. My fantasy for you is, you get to have an honest conversation with your mom and dad about why the rest of the family should be told, how, and what YOU feel like YOU want.
Please keep us posted!
~t.