In coming out to others, consider the following:

Think about what you want to say and choose the time and place carefully.
Be aware of what the other person is going through. The best time for you might not be the best time for someone else.
Present yourself honestly and remind the other person that you are the same individual you were yesterday.
Be prepared for an initially negative reaction from some people. Do not forget that it took time for you to come to terms with your sexuality, and that it is important to give others the time they need.
Have friends lined up to talk with you later about what happened.
Don't give up hope if you don't initially get the reaction you wanted. Due to inculcated societal prejudices mentioned earlier, some people need more time than others to come to terms with what they have heard.

Above all, be careful no to let your self-esteem depend entirely on the approval of others. If a person rejects you and refuses to try to work on acceptance, that's not your fault. Keep in mind that this initial refusal may get reversed once the individual gets used to the idea that you are LGBT. If time does not seem to change the individual's attitude toward you, then you may want to re-evaluate your relationship and its importance to you. Remember that you have the right to be who you are, you have the right to be out and open about all important aspects of your identity including your sexual orientation, and in no case is another person's rejection evidence of your lack of worth or value.

Some young people try to deny their feelings as is often easier when out of mind but this is short lasting. Others will try and avoid thoughts and feelings which remind them that they have homosexual inclinations. It then becomes more in the distant that many will come out as blocking their sexuality and not seeking any external help is as comforting as admission of feelings so they end up balancing each other out.

Telling Parents

Telling parents are the most important people to let know about your feelings but often are not the first to be told. In many cases parents have an idea that their offspring maybe gay or lesbian but is just a taboo subject and often put to the back of their mind. Coming out to them can often put their minds at rest as well as your own as they may not understand thats their sons and daughters wont be in their eyes "normal" However the word normal is what you feel is normal yourself. Once you have told your parents others seem to be easier as you know through your upbringing that its them that have been there for you in infancy, schooling and early adult life. There is also many resources available to your parents to help them understand your sexuality and support you in after confiding in them.

Family...Friends...Other Gay or Lesbian folk?

Now then before you tell anyone else you have to first of all tell yourself. To come out is going to be a whole new life experience for you and the first person you tell is going to be the first step in living the life the way you want to.

Now for the dilemma, who is this first person going to be

A stranger at a local centre
Other gay friends that don't alreday know about you
A teacher or person you can trust
A friend of the opposite sex
A parent or other family member

The above are only just examples and not in any particular order or preference that you should tell first. However getting the support of a parent is the ultimate satisfaction because then it makes coming out to others so much easier that your own parents have been told and hopefully accepted your sexuality. this is the spring board that everyone looks for.

Coming Out to Other Lesbians and Gay Men

It is usually advisable to come out first to those who are most likely to be supportive. LGBT people are a potential natural support system because they have all experienced at least some of the steps in the process of coming out. Sharing experiences about being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender can help you decrease feelings of isolation and shame. Furthermore, coming out to other LGBT people can help you build a community of people who can then support and assist you in coming out to others in your life. Many LGBT communities offer a number of helpful resources, including local coming out groups, switchboards, social outlets, and political and cultural activities and organizations.

Coming Out to Heterosexuals

Perhaps your most difficult step in coming out will be to reveal yourself to heterosexuals. It is at this step that you may feel most likely to encounter negative consequences. Thus it is particularly important to go into this part of the coming out process with open eyes. For example, it will help to understand that some heterosexuals will be shocked or confused initially, and that they may need some time to get used to the idea that you are LGBT. Also, it is possible that some heterosexual family members or friends may reject you initially. However, do not consider them as hopeless; many people come around in their own time.

Coming out to others is likely to be a more positive experience when you are more secure with your sexuality and less reliant on others for your positive self-concept. The necessary clarification of feelings is a process that usually takes place over time. It may be a good idea to work through that process before you take the actual steps. Usually it is not a good idea to come out on the spur of the moment. Make coming out an action, not a reaction.