Dear Prudence,
I am a 19-year-old lesbian and feel like I have been hiding from myself long enough. So after some help from a local PFLAG chapter, I felt I was ready to come out. I wrote letters to my parents (they’re religious, so I wanted some distance from their reactions) telling them I am gay and that when they are ready, I wanted to discuss it with them. I came out in person to some friends and other relatives who were very accepting and loving. My parents never reacted. I waited for three weeks, then brought it up to them, and that’s when it finally came out. My parents are ashamed of me. They say that they never asked for a daughter like me, they were happier not knowing, and why did I tell them? I ended up leaving the house and staying with my aunt. I will soon leave for school in another state, one that is more LGBTQ-friendly. But for now, what do I do? Do I jump back into the closet for my parents’ sake until I leave? Do I just keep going as I am, keep reaching out, and hope they come around? My aunt has been a rock through this and tells me that I should just write off my parents at this point, but they are my parents—I love them!
—Back to the Closet