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Dear Breakup Girl,

I am 16, I've been dating the same guy for about a year. We have a great relationship and plan on being together far into the future.

However, my parents are divorced, they've both had multiple failed marriages; and last year my mom came out of the closet as a lesbian. My boyfriend's family is extremely religious, old fashioned and closed minded. His family does not know about my mother's sexual preference and they constantly rag on homosexuals when I'm at their house. Being more of a liberal, I become extremely angry but keep my mouth shut as not to disrespect them. I don't believe that they should be pushing their beliefs and Bible-thumping ways on to me.. I never would insult their beliefs.

I'm scared that if they find out about my mother, they will completely reject me and not let my boyfriend and I date anymore. My mom and his mom are friends but they haven't talked about the lesbian thing. And his family does seem to like me a lot. I think that they believe I am also a good Catholic school girl who follows the Bible even though I am really a lot different. Please help.

-- Torn Between Families

Dear Torn,

Well. If the cat gets out of the bag, there's unfortunately not much you can do about it but wait and see how your boyfriend and his family react. And -- depending on the extent of your apostasy -- pray. In the meantime, Belleruth suggests that -- if your mom is sturdy and available enough -- you talk to her about your concerns, too. Just talk. Because you also, says Belleruth, "shouldn't forget to do whatever you can to get comfortable with your mom's exit from the closet. It's probably not just the Bible-thumpers who would have -- or are having -- a hard time with it."

Love,
BR and BG

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