First off you need to come out to yourself. For some individuals their life journey includes coming out as LGBTIQ in their 20?s and 30?s. Factors which impact the timing include: self awareness, maturity, age, peer group influences, family experience, cultural norms, religious upbringing, educational experience, place of residence, income, workplace acceptance, and independent living. As an individual you will have your own set of reasons for what you do. 

A good resource to consult for Coming Out is from the Human Rights Campaign in the USA  http://www.hrc.org/documents/resourceguide_co.pdf

Questioning?
A). Sexual Attraction: To whom are you sexually attracted?
B). Sexual Behaviour: With whom have you actually had sex?
C). Sexual Fantasies: About whom are your sexual fantasies?
D). Emotional preference: Who do you feel more drawn to or close to emotionally?
E). Social preference: Which gender do you socialize with?
F). Lifestyle preference: In which community do you like to spend your time? In which do you feel most comfortable?
G). Self-identification: How do you label or identify yourself?

If you are LGBTIQ, you may wonder whether to come out ? to parents, friends, professors, and colleagues at work, or even partners. Coming out when you were younger may not have been a possibility where you grew, up as far as you were concerned. Fear of rejection, alienation and potential loss of opportunity for career advancement and income may have prevented you from expressing who you are. Perhaps you knew you were different but were not ready to come out to others. Coming out is a very personal decision. While it can strengthen and deepen relationships and improve self-esteem, it can be a very scary thing. In some situations, it can even be risky. Homophobic attitudes and behaviours are present today in many communities and workplaces. Personal safety is paramount. Only you can decide if and when to come out, to whom, and how to do it.

Celebrating !
Here are the most important things: Love yourself. Be true to yourself. Express yourself. Find your voice to speak to the world. Learn what others are doing. LGBTIQ people are some of the strongest people on the planet. There are role models in every field. Attend a Pride Festival. Become active in the Windsor Pride sports teams- make some new friends and find some new straight allies. Meet new people at the Summer Pride Festival. Join a committee. Volunteer and make a pledge to donate to causes which impact LGBTIQ lives. Help support the mission of Windsor Pride Community and lay a stronger foundation for the generations to come. Sign up for the email blasts of the latest news and programs.  There are publications like the Advocate for news, entertainment, travel, music, lifestyle and The Annual Top 100 role models.  Check out http://out.com/ and Curve Magazine http://www.curvemag.com/

For Canadian news and entertainment http://www.xtra.ca/public/National.aspx
We don't realize how strong we are. Despite the daily torment we've endured, we're still alive. And to survive is a mark of incredible strength. Check our Online Resources Section of this website to learn more and check out the links.

Consider joining the Gay/ Lesbian organization at your college or Out on Campus at Uwindsor or consider joining the LGBTIQ Employee Resource Group at your place of work. Help by building up the community which speaks for you. Our lives today are built on the shoulders of those who fought and succeeded in gaining for Canadians human rights, marriage rights, and adoption rights. That said there are still are many more Canadian hearts and minds to be won. 
Looking for support and friends to talk?

Windsor Pride Community in collaboration with Family Service Windsor Essex County and the Windsor Family Health Team offer a LGBTIQ support group for individuals in the 20?s and 30?s. Groups meet weekly. Groups are for those who identify as Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, Two spirited, and heterosexual or straight. Check the website for the latest information about locations, dates and times.

 
In the meantime, visit our website Online Resources for more information.