@Golentan; that is really, really sad/depressing. Sad for the child mostly.

Speaking of something you mentioned in your post; I have been thinking of coming out to some people at fencing. I was talking to a friend about this. Neither of us could really come up with a way to do it with making the conversation very awkward, and I am still not precisely sure how people at my club will react (although that isn't something you guys can really help me with). Mostly, though, I was wondering what effective ways others have come out to close friends/relations? Because, honestly, I haven't really done it often enough to say what a good way to do it would be, and it has been pretty awkward every time I did come out to someone.