Dear Jethro,
My best friend just recently told me that she is gay. As a girl I think it makes things kind of awkward and I really don’t want things to change between us. We’ve been friends for 10 years! What do I do?
-Shocked
Dear Shocked,
I know that a friend coming out to you may seem like a surprise at first, but know that if your friend trusted you enough to tell you, then you should feel honored and keep it a secret until she is ready to come out on her own. If you think that it’s hard to contemplate for you, then think about how much harder it is for her to come to this realization and possibly lose some of the people close to her if she tells them. Your friend was the same person you met 10 years ago, and things haven’t changed, except that now you know about her orientation. If you’re worried that she may have feelings for you, straight up ask her and don’t make things awkward. Just like straight people are not attracted to every single person of the opposite sex that they see, the same goes for gays and lesbians. If your friend ever feels threatened because of her orientation, tell her to seek professional help from a guidance counselor or a trusted adult. I hope that in time, you will learn to be comfortable with and accept your friend’s sexuality.
Sincerely,
Jethro