Introducing Your Same-Sex Partner Drama-Free

As our society continues to evolve, our attitudes about lifestyles that fall outside what is considered "mainstream" such as being gay, lesbian or bisexual have become more tolerant. However, the recent gay marriage firestorm is pushing those tolerance levels to their limits and people to one side or the other in support of whether or not a percentage of this country's population can enjoy the same freedoms as their fellow citizens. With such an epic battle raging, the task of introducing your same-sex partner to your family may seem daunting to say the least. Making such an announcement doesn't have to be the thing that ruins Thanksgiving dinner for everyone as it once was in the past. By conducting a "360-degree" assessment of the situation ahead of time, you can keep the drama to a minimum for yourself and everyone involved. This assessment includes evaluating your motivations, determining your partner's comfort level with meeting your family and having a fairly accurate perception of your family's attitude and beliefs where sexuality and relationships are concerned.

If you're making the decision to introduce your partner to your family, the pervasive assumption is that your relationship is substantial and long-term from the perspective of your partner and your family. Keeping this in mind, evaluate your motivations for wanting your family to meet this person. It is generally considered a "big deal" when you take someone home to meet your family, so you should be prepared for the inevitable scrutiny from them. As a result, if there are any insecurities, hostilities or unresolved issues in your relationship, they could come up at what may seem like an inconvenient time; right in front of your family! If you factor in our unconscious desire to please our parents, you can find yourself exaggerating or fabricating your partner's qualities as well as the quality of your relationship. Avoid these pitfalls by being totally honest with yourself and your family as well as being accepting of your partner, flaws and all. These steps can take off a lot of undue pressure from you and your partner.