I was basically forced to come out unpleasantly for other reasons

I am forced to stay in the closet because homosexuality is illegal in my country. And everytime I tried to test the waters with my family, they react very badly and make it very clear they would disown their son if they ever had a gay one. It's great that you are happy but keep in mind you had the choice first.

I can tell you how I saw my cousin when he wasn't out yet. At least I didn't know yet. He was always saying he would never spent money for women so I just thought he was cheap or something. But beside that I didn't think he was weird or anything. He was just my little cousin. Not that little now, but I still see him in my mind like he was at 5 and 9. Always asking granpa to give him wine to drink. Didn't see anything strange that he didn't have girlfriend yet. One other cousin didn't have a girlfriend untill he was probably 30. Maybe he did, but I never met one and that wasn't strange either.

Being LGBT is as much a human variation as being left-. ;D

@Minerboh80: I realised that i am gay when i was fullfilling my military service and met him! Did the feelings last?

Being in the closet implies hiding from the outside world, and the act of coming out of it implies the will to stop hiding.. ;D

@Kinsey6: .. The FACT that both you and I recognize WE are gay – and I personally don't think that that can be changed -- is an important internal recognition. .. Today I can certainly admit that I am off-the-scale gay. .. Your self-esteem IS very important. .. Tim I agree that our self esteem is so important!!