Gay Christian Man struggling with confidence issues

Hi blakey2930,

Thanks for your post and welcome to the forums.

I guess firstly I'd like to say congratulations on coming out! It's difficult at the best of times but I imagine that the pandemic could have made it even more challenging, especially if you're clinically vulnerable. I came out years ago but I remember that it being a time of change and self-discovery and it sounds like you want to explore the community, and yourself in a safe manner.

Luckily a lot of groups and meetups are now operating permanent online meetups as the pandemic has shown that there is a lot of demand for ways that people can connect outside of physically meeting in bars and clubs. I'm sure that some of these will be LGBTQ+ Christian-groups if that's what you're looking for. I'm not sure what your requirements are for Christian-friendly but many groups are accepting of people from diverse backgrounds and of all faiths. I'd suggest taking a look around for groups online, be that those run by charities or societies and clubs. Meetup.com is a great place to find some of these. You don't mention where you are but if you'd like to attend something in person, then if you're near a city (especially London) then your options are far greater.

Also thank you for talking about your gymnophobia. I wonder whether talking with a licensed therapist about it might help? We do have a fact sheet on body image issues on our site but it sounds like you have a more detailed knowledge of what you're experiencing and that a medical professional might be a better step forward.

Below I'm going to post some links that you might find helpful:

Umbrella HangOuts - We run an LGBTQ+ online support and social group called Umbrella HangOuts which is there for LGBTQ+ people to meet in a safe environment. Maybe you could come to our next event in July? www.lgbthero.org.uk/umbrella-hangouts-lgbtq

Switchboard - The LGBTQ+ helpline which has been running for over forty years! They're there to talk about whatever's on your mind, and might have some ideas for ways in which you can explore your new desired social life. 0300 330 0630, 10am - 10pm.

Meetup - Meetup.com is a great site for finding online LGBTQ+ groups. I'm not sure exactly what you're looking for but it's definitely worth a look!

I hope that some of the above is useful. Please know that the community is here for you, and if you're looking for more information then please don't hesitate to post again.

Piltover