“I’d been feeling miserable, like I was hiding something. I’d been thinking about it for months. I was living at home when I decided to tell them. I was in the bathroom for twenty minutes thinking ‘shall I tell them? shall I tell them?’. It’s such a big decision. They were downstairs in the living room watching Coronation Street. I was getting hotter and hotter, sweating and panicking. I went downstairs and sat in the living room. I said “Have you ever not thought it strange that I haven’t had a boyfriend? It’s because I like girls”. Dad didn’t say anything. Mum said “Oh, but you wear lipstick!”. Then Dad piped up “oh, that’s fine, that’s not a problem” – very understanding. I’d been panicking upstairs for ages and they were really laid back, but that’s my parents. Very matter of fact. No fuss, no song and dance and it was just like I was making a comment. And then they just carried on watching TV. They’re not for talking about personal things. Dad didn’t mention it again – “nothing to do with me, as long as you’re happy, that’s fine””