Coming Out: Gay Or Furry

[lupestripe]

Because I came out as gay and furry at the same time, I don't know which one caused a greater problem with my parents. My Dad didn't care but my Mum had an issue with something. To be honest, I think it is more with furry than with me being gay (as she had gay friends at college and was perplexed by the furry thing) but it's difficult to be 100% sure.

I have heard from a few friends that they would find it far more difficult to come out as a furry than to come out as gay. Why this is, I am not too sure. It may be because homosexuality is becoming increasingly accepted in the Western World and it is now something that most people don't fear. In fact, many accept it as being "normal". Meanwhile, furry is far more niche.

But then to some, furry is merely an interest or hobby rather than a lifestyle. In some ways, it is no different to being into heavy metal or football or whatever. So why does it cause so many problems regarding coming out as a fur? I accept the media has portrayed a scewed image of furry but then, the same could be said for things like heavy metal or football. All heavy metal fans are Satanists, right? And football fans are all hooligans. Exactly. Yet coming out as a football fan or a heavy metal is going to be greeted by most parents with indifference.

It's an interesting dichotomy. Does anyone have any views or has anyone had any experiences with this?

Comments

[jackiedog.livejournal.com]

I can't remember really how it happened but a few years ago I was talking to my Mum and somehow she asked me whether I liked men or women and that's when I told her (albeit she knew since when I was a pup xD). And also, somehow, at that moment I told her about furry and that I was going to get a fursuit and the price, so she had a lot to chew on and digest at that moment :D

As to me being gay she couldn't care a crap. About furry she was interested in knowing what was that about exactly (which is perfectly understandable when you have no idea about it is about) and if it was a hobby, a lifestyle, etc (for me it's more like a hobby, a very special one, but a hobby). My Dad was a bit meh about the gay stuff at first because he was worried I could have problems out there, but other than that he's perfectly fine. About furry he says I'm a bit nuts (nothing new here anyhow, I've never been "normal" xD) but he's even put on part the suit, so... ;P

They're perfectly okay with it all, and my Mum totally loves my suit also, me going to cons (hell, I have travelled more this last year than I did in my whole life!). But actually, everyone I've told about furry so far has shown a very positive reaction and that includes my family, relatives, non-fur friends, ex co-workers and my parents' friends, so that's a high amount of people :P

I'm sure it helps the fact that the first time they've ever heard about furry has been from me and not from the media, and I do better than talking about the oddest part of the fandom and in a negative and mocking way *smirks* :P

I honestly don't get what's wrong with being a fur. You get to know people all over the glove, travel a lot and get to know a lot of places, not to mention it's a *ton* of fun! :P
Hell, the first time I saw a video of fursuiters I was at my college's dorm and the first thing I did was calling my friends there and showing the video and telling them that I *SOOO* wanted to do that too! xD And no one freaked out, in fact we ended up watching some more videos, haha!

I understand people being afraid to tell their parents about furry if they happen to be highly conservatives (and the guys in question being economically dependant of their folks), but in that case they should be afraid of telling their parents about just *ANYTHING* that's a just a weeeeeeee bit out of the path of the "normality", and not just about furry :P

Dunno, each person is a whole world on its own so... *shrugs* :)
So far I've never had any problems and for that I'm thankful :)