A large percentage of gay men marry before they come out

This story has some personal significance for me. I used a marriage to hide from myself. To hide from facing the reality of my sexuality. I grew up in a time and a town where being gay was not an option. I was in denial. I didn't want to be gay. I hid from everyone and I hid from myself most of all. I was married for 10 years and I am the father of a 9 year old daughter.

It took me that long to come to grips with who I am and to come out. I never intended to hurt or deceive - I was living a lie not only towards everyone that I loved - but also towards myself. I truly wish that it didn't have to be this way - that I didn't make the mistakes I did, but I am happy that it did now happen so that I may still have time to make a life for myself and so that my ex-wife may do the same.

Children are such beautiful things and although it did unmistakably affect my daughter negatively, I am so absolutely amazed at how well she is adjusting to her family having split up and to her daddy being different. We took her to a child psychologist so that she may work through the issue of my sexuality. We thought that honesty and education would be the best approach. She is doing so well.

Full article here:
http://www.canada.com/topics/lifestyle/relationships/story.html?id=605d0121-b752-4188-bab9-bf99cfd5ecb1&p=1

""Research shows that 29 per cent of gay men do marry someone from the opposite sex before coming out," says McLeod. "Many people are trying to find their way in their early years, and they want to be accepted."

For Paul Carr, who now heads Gay Fathers of Toronto, one of the country's oldest gay support networks, getting married to a woman was a desperate attempt to evade his true sexual nature.

"I had attractions to men, but I didn't want to be gay," says Carr, who was married for 33 years. "This was in the early 1960s. It was illegal, a sickness, and a sin." ..."