Mine was a very slow process. I came out to my family first, and they were the only ones who knew for quite some time. But I eventually eased my way into the semi-out status that I'm at today. It's up to you, but make sure you think this through. It's (obviously) a big decision.

I came out to both my parents at a very young age (like, 12 or 13) but at different times. Neither of them even believed me at first, but now that it's been like 4-ish years, they've accepted that it's not "a phase." It takes time for them to realize it's not a phase, so don't get upset at first if they think it is.

My dad was first. I was just having a minor breakdown about school and bullies and stuff, and he came in to check on me. I told him what was wrong, and I let it slip that I couldn't get a cute girl (Old Crush) to notice I existed. He said it was okay that I liked a girl, but it might be a phase and I could possibly still grow up to be straight. I told him that was highly unlikely, and he just said okay. (He's not a very good advice guy.)

He dropped the "it could be a phase" line of thinking when I was like 14 and had this random conversation in which I asked him how he got girls' phone numbers as a teenager... And earlier this week, I told him I was a little on edge because "a really special and important friend" was about to leave, and he figured it was a girl. So, yeah, he's come around, but we don't talk about it often because he's really awkward at discussions about anything to do with attraction and whatnot.

I was in the car with my mom one night after she had picked me up from a school football game I had gone to watch. I mentioned that I sat with an annoyingly guy-obsessed friend, who was boring because all she talked about was guys. And my mom asked why I didn't want to talk about guys. I said I wasn't into them. She asked if I liked girls instead, and I said yes. She also thought it was a phase for a couple of years, but she too has finally realized it's not one.

As for my small number of friends who ACTUALLY BELIEVE ME, I've mostly just told them after the gay subject was brought up. It's a lot easier when the topic is already at hand.

Just do it. And above all, if someone asks, try not to lie.
I've done it before and hated myself for it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xt5ghXdq6Z0&safe_search=on

I do not plan on officially coming out until I have a beautiful, wonderful, loving, respectful, awesome girl by my side. Even when that happens, I still can't imagine telling my mom and dad. Or the rest of my uber religious family. My closest friends know, and they're perfectly fine with it. We don't really talk about it, though. But they don't treat me any differently, which is pretty surprising.