A Tough Step

Hi all!

So I have been thinking lately that I want to tell my best friend that I'm a GL. We've been friends for 10 years and I talk to him about anything (except my attractions). He is quite open minded and recently was talking to him about peds and how people fear what they don't understand blah blah, and he expressed the view that he thought it could be a sexual orientation!

I run through my head what I'm going to say to him but I then imagine actually saying it and it feels very scary as I've never told anyone before. Does anyone have any tips on the best way to approach this subject with someone? how to avoid nerves? Should I give him warning? i.e saying 'There's something about me that I have to tell you, I've never told anyone and I guarantee it will shock you.'

Also I'm a little worried that as I work with kids I'm naturally very wary about anyone finding out! If I was to lose my job and not be able to work with kids because of this, it would be very upsetting. I love my job and am good at it too as naturally I give children a large amount of respect. I don't think in a million years he would go behind my back and say anything, but then you NEVER can predict someones reaction 100%, and there's a chance he will be concerned about it.

However I feel like I absolutely must do this because we're such good friends and it will be like a HUGE relief to finally tell someone. Although it's difficult to guage his feelings about pedophilia as he was abused as a child and ended up helping to get the guy put in jail, which I completely agree with! I would never abuse children as it's totally against my nature. I would never have consensual sexual activity with a LG even if I was completely in love with her and she was coming onto me in a big way. It's this love that would stop me from doing anything with her as I know that one day the social conditioning would take over and she would think that what we did was wrong.

Anyway this is a bit about the situation I am facing. If you could spare some time to give me your thoughts on whether this is a good idea, how to go about it or any stories from when you have outed yourself to someone, then I would be REALLY grateful!

Thanks

Quasar