I sadly know from experience that even if you're a complete softball-playing, makeup scorning, folk rocking tomboy, the second you identify as bi you're up against instant scrutiny just because of the inherent attitude about bisexuality. Generally, on coming out to your friend, you should consider if you want other people to know or not. And then you should consider your friend's capacity for keeping information safe. You've probably heard this suggestion, but a good gauge for how well your friend will react is to mention some sort of issue or show or book involving homosexuality, and see how she reacts.

After that, or if you just want to go ahead with it, there's not really much you can do other than to just say, "I'm bi." If you try to embellish it too much, the message might get lost, as well as the underlying message you're giving to your friend: "I trust you, and because I want you to know me--all parts of me--I'm telling you this about myself."

This is probably another one of those really irritating things you've heard before, but nobody can determine your sexual identity other than you. (argh, I'm slipping into educational handout mode, sorry!) Although I have to say that if you've gone so far as to tell a family member, and to really WANT to tell people, even if you're not 100% sure, if you're at this stage, that says something. Once you get there, I don't think there's anything wrong with dating girls at that point. Go for it if it's an option!

There's also the issue that sexuality is entirely fluid and CAN shift and change over time (because our minds never let us off easy, heh), and I, for one, am a believer in the Kinsey principle that everyone is some sort of bisexual. It's something I like keeping in mind, at least.

I hope that helped...a little bit, at least...I'm sorry that I sound so formal and medicinal throughout all of that. I've written a bunch of essays for school in the past week or so and I feel that I've lost any sense of original personal voice I ever had. But anyway, good luck with whatever you go about doing. I hope it turns out well for you!

Yeah I'll probably end up saying something along the same lines as the other two... Anyway. I remember when I finally decided it was time to start telling people I'm les, I was really nervous, just like you. I started with one of my closest friends, on MSN, while I was far away at the cottage. And she was fine with it. I mean, she wasn't right there for me to see her face, but that's okay, because we started talking about it, and she told me I'm still her wonderful manda-panda :3 Then I started telling other close friends, feeling a little more reassured by the reaction of my first friend. I even told my fav cousin, after he came out that he's bi. After a few months, saying I'm a lesbian is just... natural. Someone asks me if I am, I say yeah. Soemtimes iI'll just randomly say, 'that chicks' hot', or 'guess what, i'm a lesbian!' just to see how people react ^^

As for my advice... I agree with what the first person told you, start a conversation about say, Julie anne Peters books, or the Rainbow Boys, or just homosexuality in general and see how tolerant she is, if you don't already is. And then just say, "I have somehting I'd like you to know. I'm bi." Done, and done. Simple as that.

And well, if you're almost 100% sure you're bi, then I'd probably make the assumtion that you are. And of course, as the years go by, you will learn more about your sexuality. It takes time to figure it out for sure, but you will, trust me.

And well, I know there are a lot of stereotypes for bisexuality. even lesbians and gays. I admit, I may be a little guilty for those stereotypes, I often think of bi's as one kind of person. And it's not true, if your other friends don't belive you at first, simply because of your lifestyle, well, they don't have the right to define you. "Don't let society define you. Define yourself." I dunno who said that, but i read it somewhere. And it's so true.

anyway. my friend seems to be impatient for some reason and keeps asking me if I'm done. So... I hope that helps at all :/ though I probably just reworded what was already said... anyway. It'll be scary at first to come out, but just do it, and it'll get so much easier as time goes by :)

Anyway.