We are family

Sad to say that I'm still struggling with coming out to my family. Just when I think they must have at least thought about the possibility that I'm gay, or maybe are even about to ask me, something happens.

I was at my Mother's house when my sister and her daughter stopped by for a visit. I'm wanting to build more of a relationship with my niece these days, because she's so quiet and seems to be in the middle of a potential 'mean girls' storm (can't believe how 14-15 year old girls--and their mothers--behave).

Anyway, the visit was going well and then I told my niece that she could change the TV channel if she wanted...I think it was on CNN or something. As she started channel surfing my sister saw that Project Runway was on and said, "Put it on Project Runway, the guys on that show are hilarious."

The next 20 minutes were spent with my sister and niece laughing hysterically every time one of the obviously gay guys was on the screen.

As I write this, I realize I don't remember my mother joining in with the laughter.

So while I realize many of the guys on Project Runway are over the top...and sometimes even funny to me. The spirit of my sister and niece's laughter felt mean-spirited and didn't encourage me to share the fact that I am gay. Also, I've had other similar experiences with my sister and her daughter.