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I remember once I refferenced 2 things relating to girls/lesbian-ism-ness in one conversation after school and my mom said "Maybe you and Molly should take a break and date some boys. You're getting girl crazy." I was like O_O riiiiiight.
It was wierd.
It's really fun being gay in a rool full of drama kids though, let me tell you. My drama teacher is amazing! xD

Yeah, I love with people are open about it, it's nice and happy ^_^
Teh drama kids are just craaaazy! They bounce around and have ADD contests and...oh my gosh, best story ever. So I assistant stage directed for the musical this past year, Nunsence. It only have 5 characters, so it's a nice itty bitty cast. I knew them all and my drama teacher/director. They all knew about me and Molly. Well, all except for one girl, Kathleen. So we were sitting there and she sees my ring, an irish clauda (sp?) ring, that you point upwards if your heart's taken, and downwards when it isn't. Molly gave it to me ^_^ Anyway. She's like "Erica, do you have a boyfriend?" I'm like "...noooooo." Everybody in the room pauses to watch. Now, Kathleen generally is pretty ditzy, I mean, love her, but yes. Then she tries to tell me the thing about the ring being right side up if you have a boyfriend, blah blah. I'm like "...I know." She's like, "But you don't have a boyfriend?" "Nooo...." She looks around really confused-like at everybody, then looks back at me. Finally, after what seemed like forever, my drama teacher leans forward and loudly whispers, "She's a lesbian, honey." Kathleen is like "OH! I didn't know that!"
It was the funniest moment of my life xD

It takes time I suppose...one of the girls who was there is the BEST person EVER to joke about that kind of thing. I drove her home from rehersal (for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat *dies*) tonight and she's like, "So I think so-and-so is gay, do you have gaydar for boys too or just girls?" I laughed and said mostly girls. Then she said, "One more point for your team!" xD

Well, I was "dating" this boy and one day I was thinking about that. I was currently identifying as bisexual, but suddenly I went "Huh. Chris is really nice, and I like him a lot... but if he or any other boy touched me I would kick their a**." From that point on I identified as someone whose perefrence leaned totally towards girls. So a few months later I was talking to my friend and I explained to her that I didn't like guys at all, but for some reason I still called myself "bisexual". She told me that it sounded like I was a lesbian, but for some reason I completley denied it. Even more months later I was talking to the same friend and I was like "Fine! Maybe I am a lesbian!". It took me even more time to become comfortable with saying it, but with the help of the Gay Straight Alliance, I am now proud to call myself a lesbian!

Well, this doesn't work in all situations, but for me, the most homophobic of my friends took the news really well. When I came out to my ex-boyfriend, who was always making homophobic comments, he told me he was bi too. Then when I came out to my best friend who's deeply Christian, it was a little awkward around us for about a week and then she just got used to it. It'll take some time for people to adjust to it, but I personally think you should tell at least a few of your closest friends.

*nods* I denied it as well. Partially just so I could retain hope that I was "normal" o_O

Patriach - It all depends on what you're comfortable with. If you feel like they deserve to know because they are so close to you, then tell them. If you feel like you should be required to tell them, or honestly are not ready for the concequences, I suggest you wait. A friend of mine knew he was gay and told his parents I believe in 7th grade, but all through high school he held it in (though, it's easy to tell with him wink ). Now he's in college and I'm not sure how much he's been socializing with the same sex, but the point is, for some people, the risk just isn't always worth taking.
Maybe you could even talk to one friend who you really really trust. That's how I started, with someone who can keep a secret and will always be your friend no matter what. You don't have to suddenly jump out of the closet singing show-tunes to the world. Take your time ^_^