Expert: Brandon Young - 6/27/2009

Question
ok here's my question,im a bisexual, and i known thissince i was like 10(im 15 right now)  and i have been friend with this kid since i was 6(he's 14 now) and im almost sure that he like guys cause we normally grab asses or hug  and we discuss about what guy is hotter and that kind of stuff.he don't know that im bi or at least that's what he says eventhough i have told him a lot of times but he just take it as a joke,ok so i kinda like him but is more like a friend thing since we've being friends for so long but he tottally denies that he like guys and he's dating a girl (for the first time in his life) so my question is, how i could now i he's gay or bi,i think he denies it so much because he's a little immature to accept it, we live in a very homophobic country and he's parents are tottaly against homosexuality so that maybe have influence on him so any advice on that?? how could i help him to accept himself?

sorry if my english is not so good :S

Answer
Hey Louis!
Your in a pretty tricky situation here.
Of what you told me, it sounds like he is either completely joking around, or is bisexual. He may be bicurious. (I personally think all people are). Dealing with your situation of a homophobic country it makes accepting yourself even harder. The big I want to stress Louis, is you can't force him into coming out. Coming out is a process which can only successfully work if you are entirely ready to embark on that journey. I recommend talking to him about it. See what he has to say. Dont blantly ask if hes bi, but ask if hes ever thought about other guys.

Hope this has helped.
Good Luck!
-Brandon :)