[mindful]

I'm a 25-year-old queer woman who grew up Southern Baptist and now identifies as a progressive Christian, and I've been with my girlfriend for 2 years. All of this (except the "25-year-old" and "woman" parts!) is unknown to my loving, supportive, but *very* conservative parents. I hate living a double life; sometimes the fear and guilt can be overwhelming. But I'm also terrified of what my parents would say if they knew; they'd think I was brainwashed, confused, a different person, a lost soul. In the back of my mind, I know I'll have to tell them eventually, but there are so many questions I can't answer. For example, I don't identify as a lesbian, and I might end up with a man someday; I just don't know. I'm afraid this would either give them false hope or make them think my sexuality was a choice. Anyway, I'm not sure where to go from here, and I'm not sure what I'm asking from this forum. I guess I just need to put my thoughts in writing and hope that they'll be read by people who can relate . . .

Peace,
Elizabeth