Is an unaccepting family a reason to run away?

[Guest]

I'm 13 and a Bisexual Enby. I'm really wanting to come out as my dysphoria has been getting pretty bad and coming out is the only way to help improve it. But my mum is a huge homophobe and Christian and hates the idea of gays and trans people. If I come out to her, there's about a 70% chance that she won't accept me and get really mad. So I'm planning what to do if isn't accepting. Is running away a good option or is it not worth it? Will it just cause trouble?

[ccsmod3]

Hi there, and thanks for reaching out to us here at NRS. We know that it can take a lot of courage to reach out for support, and we're glad you took that step. It sounds like you're feeling pretty worried about coming out to mom, which is understandable. You're very brave to be considering it. While we can't tell you what's reason enough to runaway, it's definitely a good idea to weigh out all of your options before making that decision. For example, your mom might not accept what you're telling her, but that doesn't necessarily mean she'll treat you differently. If that's the case, is that something you could live with if it means you have somewhere safe to live? At some point it really becomes a matter of what makes the most sense for you and your wellbeing--leaving home and running away doesn't mean things will be easier. It means that you don't have to deal with the issues that you're having with mom, but you will have new issues to deal with once you're gone. Consider the ways that you can reach your ultimate goals in life, and which decisions now will help get you there.

Unfortunately because NRS works primarily within the states, we don't have a ton of resources that we can send your way for further support. If you visit www.childhelplineinternational.com and click on "Find a Child Helpline" at the top of the page, you may be able to find an org similar to ours in your area. That way if you need any additional support and want to talk through things in a little more detail, you'll know the right folks to connect with.

We're wishing you the best of luck.

NRS