Well, as I said previously, I'd talk to them about it, let them know they aren't alone in the world. Try to point them to some good information, and provide them with any of my experience that I thought might be helpful.

This post has been edited by Itzwolf on Oct 9 2006, 07:26 PM

How could any body who's been active or just interested in this, ever lose respect for a family member or close friend if they came out to you. That just woldn't make any sense. However if they wanted to go public with it, I'd certainly advise them against it.

:) Dear silkythighs, I never even hinted about loosing respect for someone close whom I'd suspect or know that's into it. Ofcourse that doesn't make sense, at least, not to talk about aplying double standarts. I definitely agree with you against advising them to go public - that's plain stupid, dangerouse etc etc. I don't do this, why would I advise someone else, close and dear to me to do it?

What I had in mind was more like...would you assist them in such activities or would you try you discourage them bearing in mind all the discomfort and the eventual consequences of such lifestile. Assisting goes (maybe, can't imagine otherwise) with comming out yourself out of the closet, sharing expiriense - will you be wiling to risk that. And discouraging comes with arguments, how would argument your case without aplying double standarts?

And then is another question that I didn't ask - say the situation is reversed, a close sibling suspects you're involved in such activities. Would you let this very close to you person wonder and probably reach some wrong conclusions about yourself and risk loosing respect by reason of unsertainty? Or would you try to explain yourself, again risking to loose respect, this time by reasons of prejudices or plain ignorance? I exclude the risk of this sibling yapping around about you - once you suspect such a thing it's obvious that you'll never mention the subject and will try to avoid it...what we all actualy do all the time, or ast least most of the time, except in this forum?

I havn't been in this situation so I can't say for sure how I'd react.

My inclination would be to make it known they have someone to talk to without being judged. If I could do that without confirming my own orientation that would be my preference.

I don't expect my family members to tell me what goes on in their bedrooms, and I don't see any reason to tell them what goes on in mine ;)

I wouldn't volunteer to assist them, but I might point them to this forum so they can find the info themselves.

To me the biggest "con" with confiding something like this to a family member is that they might let it slip to another person who isn't as sympathetic. If you actively assist them, they could also blame you later for "leading them astray".

I am with the beautiful Silkythighs on this thread, and very well said I may add. BZ

I've had to think awhile on this befor responding. But if I found out a family member was a zoophile I don't think it would change how I view them very much. It may make me a little more sympathetic for the hardships in terms of hiding their sexuality for so long. I would also try to be supportive of them within the family, to keep them from being attacked by other family members. As a rule, I've always made it a point to try and be supportive of my siblings regardless of the issue involved; primarily because our parents tended to be extremely domineering and close minded, and even overbearing.

Now onto a second matter. I am extremely suprised Pokerman at what you have said. Personally I have neither heard of or come across a family that was openly zoophilic. Many on this board have read posts about individual member coming out to there family. But I've yet to hear of a family that was so generally tolerant and supportive of their children when it comes to that lifestyle choice. You mentioned that your siblings do not know. Was your choice, as you grew to adulthood, intentional in as much that you didn't want your own children to be repressed in that fashion? To be honest it sound like the exact opposite of the situation I grew up. Which consequently resulted in the emotionally malformed individual I am today. I say kudos to you for being so open minded and supportive.

If A family member came out, I obviously would not judge them because of my interest. Their sex life is their business. Just like people who like to swing or swap. it is none of your business. I read a quote once, that if u knew your friends sex life and tastes, it would be hard for you to be friends with them, or at least feel a littel uncomfortable around them.