For most teens, being 14 years old is all about entering high school, hanging out with friends, and dealing with raging hormones. But at 14, Tom, a New Jersey teen, made a decision that changed his life forever.

He told his mother he is gay.

Tom, now 16, first began to feel attracted to males when he was 13. But he was afraid to tell anyone.

"I was scared," remembers Tom. "I wasn't sure how they would react and I felt alone, like I was different from everyone else."

A year passed before he confided his secret to his mother.

Looking back on that February day when he "came out," Tom has trouble pinpointing exactly what led him to tell the truth.

"I just felt like I needed to share something this important with my mom," he says.

Mom Comes Around

Initially, Tom's mother was totally devastated. She cried for days and asked herself what had "gone wrong." But after the shock wore off, she accepted her son's sexual orientation. Now that she knows, she's able to help him cope in a world that is sure to judge him for something that is as much a part of him as the color of his eyes.

"He's my son," says Tom's mother, Jill. "I want him to be happy with who he is. And I'm here to help him do that."

Today, Tom is relieved about telling his mother he is gay. He feels more confident because of his mom's support, and says that opening up to her has made their relationship even stronger.

"We're closer now and that really helps," he says. "I don't feel like I have to hide my feelings."

That support also gave Tom the courage to confide in a few of his close friends. He chose trusted buds who care about him. They've proven they really are true friends because they've stood by him.

It's not all rosy. Tom has been harassed by classmates who suspect he is gay. (He's still not comfortable discussing his sexuality with everyone. But then again, who is?) One day during lunch, some guys hurled ketchup packets at Tom. Another guy called him a "fag."

He confronted them and they backed off.

It's tough dealing with that kind of abuse, but Tom knows that some teens still don't get the fact that gay people deserve the same respect as everyone else.

"It makes me feel a little bad, but I know I don't have a problem. I'm OK. If they have a problem with me, there's nothing I can do about it," he says, adding that he is just a regular guy, trying to "find himself"—like so many of the rest of us.

Tom has no regrets about revealing his gayness to the people he loves. Telling them has liberated Tom and given him the help he needs to be who he is. And besides, he doesn't feel so alone anymore.