Why I Won't "Come Out" to Dad

[C.W. Sims]

I still have yet to broach this topic with my family. I was raised by pretty lax christians to begin with. Religion was never a big thing. It was just something that was accepted as a fact. When I began to grow older and experiment with religions my mother accepted it. When I came out as gay she accepted that as well. I do not think she would be able to accept that I am an atheist and my mother and I are very close. Mine may not be noble reasons, but they are my own and I have come to terms with them. To protect the familial bond I have with my mother, and a few other members of my family I simply don't talk about religion or talk about it in general terms.

They know I don't celebrate holidays, that to me they are just regular days, I rarely if ever join them in prayer. I don't see the need to throw a monkey wrench into their happiness just to suit myself and make me feel good about having "come out". To me religion or lack thereof is neither here nor there. It isn't like the fact that to have a normal life as a gay man I pretty much had to come out, my only other option was celibacy. In this case it is just so much a non-issue that I fail to see the point. However for those who have come out to their families and felt it was necessary to do so, I commend you. And HappyHumanist, I commend you as well. Your reasons are truly noble. That is awesome to see someone care so much for family in this day and age.