Question for Atheists: Is coming out as an atheist as hard as coming out as gay?

[Iroscato]

Meh, as long as the discussion is valid I've never minded them myself. It's up to the mods if they see this and are displeased, but I'll chip in anyway.
Living in the UK as I do, I'd say coming out as gay is definitely harder. Most of my gay friends have said they waited a while to come out, and the reactions from the families ranged from neutral to slightly frosty. So altogether not bad in comparison to some countries. However, pretty much everyone I know these days is an atheist or a very relaxed christian or muslim, and I personally have never gotten so much as a raised eyebrow from saying I'm an athiest - except from the two creationists I went to college with. Mein gott.
So it's very subjective and dependent on the country, region and social circle, I guess.

[Jericho]

I am a heterosexual, so I don't have a lot of insight on the homosexual aspect of this question. However, I can imagine that whether you are telling your family that you are an Atheist or that you are gay, that it varies depending on the lifestyle, beliefs, and opinions of your family. In the terms of my family, I feel as if it would have been easier to tell them I were gay (if I was). I say this because if I were a gay theist, I would be accepted more willingly by my family. But since I am an Atheist, not believing at all in what they do, then they would undoubtedly disown me (my extended family would, at least).

This is just my opinion.

[rexbeccarox]

I don't mind a necro if it sparks discussion.  I hate a necro discussing a by-the-wayside news item and the like, but this is fine, IMO.  

I'm a bisexual atheist (for those of you who keep capitalizing the word "atheist", please stop. HUGE pet peeve; it's not a title. You know who you are ), but I've never "come out", per se.  It only ever comes up in the course of conversation.  It never even occurred to me to do a big, dramatic "coming out".  I will say, however, if before he died, my dad found out about either trait, he would have disowned me... not a doubt in my mind.

[Jericho]

for those of you who keep capitalizing the word "atheist", please stop. HUGE pet peeve; it's not a title. You know who you are )

Sorry about that, I know I am one of them. It's odd because I don't even capitalize it every time, just every now and again.

[lunafreespirit]

The degree of difficulty with coming out as either an atheist or gay depends on the social environment one is in.  For example, when my daughter came out as gay to me, to the rest of our family and to her friends it was not hard for her at all because she knew that to all of us sexual orientation is just a matter of fact and nothing more.  She was and is confident that for those of us who love her her happiness is the most important thing.

However for her and for myself coming out as atheists to our family members and friends has been very hard.  Some of them support us, most were very disappointed and are even sure we will become religious again (they seem to be in denial), and a few even stopped talking to us all together.

[LastPoet]

Sorry about that, I know I am one of them.  It's odd because I don't even capitalize it every time, just every now and again.

My mobile capitalizes atheist. Duuuuuude. To quote Rebecca Watson: Don't do that.

[robvalue]

What about coming out for both at once?

"Mum, dad... I'm a gaytheist!"