I’m gay and I’m hiding it from my parents.  Why is everyone trying to persuade me to tell my parents?  I know that I want them to “accept me for who I am” but I honestly don’t feel the need to.  Is this wrong?

You know your situation better than anyone else ever will.

If you have the kind of parents that will give you all kinds of unending hell about your sexuality, do what you need to do to survive your temporary dependence on them.  Quickly establish your autonomy, education and financial solvency, and then decide whether or not you want to share.

If you have the kind of parents that will not pressure you to change but are “worried” and “concerned” (read: disapproving, but will phrase their prejudice as “love”) about QUILTBAG people, decide how many microaggressions you can live with, detach emotionally from their opinions, and, again, establish your independence as quickly as possible.

If your parents are basically accepting and loving, you may not need to say anything. They probably already know and will wait for you to make the first move around this topic.

Those who say sexuality isn’t anyone else’s business tend to overlook the massive privilege straight people have. Directly and indirectly, we announce our sexuality in any number of ways, seemingly unaware that QUILTBAG individuals run the risk of harassment, tone trolling, discrimination, familial rejection, homelessness, assault, and even death just for acknowledgement of the truth. Straight people don’t have to worry about harm coming to them around public displays of affection, trying to get married, media representation, applying for and getting the jobs they want, or simply being known as straight.

You do you, get as much outside support as possible, and get to your autonomous and sustainable adulthood as fast as you can. All the best.