Rainbow Guru: How best can I prepare for this moment?

Hi Rainbow Guru,
I’m a 35-year-old gay man living in Mumbai. I’m from a conservative Christian family in Kerala. I came out to my two elder brothers after breaking up an engagement my parents forced me into with a girl. I realised it was wrong on so many levels, and so did my brothers. However, my parents don’t know and have been continuing with the hints to “settle down”. We have a family reunion coming up soon where I plan to come out to my parents, counting on the support from my brothers. I’m too jittery. How best can I prepare for this moment?
—Family Man

Hi Mr Family Man,

If you’re planning to spill the beans at your family reunion, do it when your brothers are around. Try to avoid making the big reveal at dinner; it might be hard to digest. You can always target the ‘softer’ parent first. Choose the parent who listens more and speaks less. I’m just glad you broke off the engagement before the marriage. That would have landed you in a sticky mess, and not in the good way.
Don’t sweat about coming out. But, give your parents enough time to absorb the news. After all, they could have had another match waiting in the wings for you, perhaps at the reunion itself. Letting them down easy is key here.

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