<p>Do you live in the US, and if so, where? Are you in college, and if so, where?</p>
<p>You sound very depressed and morose. You can certainly be openly gay in the US today–even in the south, though of course you’ll probably find more acceptance in metro areas. Yes, some people will make jokes or disrespect you or try to hurt you, but if you’re confident in yourself, you can stop letting these people’s thought affect you in such a negative manner. You can be an out, happy, healthy, confident, comfortable, productive gay man. Or you can be scared, depressed, and lonely. You need to take charge of your life. Can you move to an area with a larger LGBT population? Can you seek out counseling or an older, gay mentor? Are there LGBT social or support groups in your area? What else can you do? You’re an adult, and your family is no longer in charge of you or your actions. Be your own person. Once you feel comfortable with your sexual orientation and confident in yourself, you will be able to come out to your parents and feel good about it. They may not be accepting right away; they may never be fully accepting. But at some point you will want to come out to them, and you’ll feel OK with their reaction. You may be disappointed, hurt, or offended, but you will be able to look at the situation with a wider eye, and you will be able to keep your self-confidence even if you’re facing a measure of rejection. With time most parents come around, and though they may never completely understand, they will likely find a way to accept you as you are. </p>
<p>Life is hard for everybody. Everyone has their challenges. The difference is the way people cope with their problems, react to setbacks, and take charge of their lives.</p>