I'm moving to atlanta from a small town to finally live my life as a gay man, any advice please?

Hey everyone thanks so much for reading this! Ok, I know this is probably the longest thing written on YA, but at least *try* to make it to the end! I just feel lost right now.





To start, I'm 18 (gay). Right now I'm a freshman college student (halfway through my second semester). I've never had a job (but have always done well in school). I live in the most bible-thumping region of South Carolina, and I just feel extremely alone.


I told my best friend I was gay 6 months ago, and she was my biggest supporter at first. Two weeks ago she told me in an 8 page text that she still had a problem with my being gay, and that she didn鈥檛 agree it. I was more crushed that I鈥檝e ever been in my life. She told me she still wanted to be friends, but I knew that I couldn鈥檛 look at her as a friend again. I鈥檝e been distancing myself from her sense then, and I hope she will eventually get the hint. I can鈥檛 just *tell* her that I can鈥檛 be around her anymore, we were best friends for 5 years.





I feel like I need to get out of this place, and move somewhere a little more "gay friendly". Maybe then I can gather my thoughts, some supporting friends, and maybe a relationship. This could give me the courage to tell my family.





Right now I鈥檓 attending a two year college in South Carolina, and the previous plan was for me to transfer to a nearby university for the last two years. Now I鈥檝e decided to transfer to a college in Georgia (near Atlanta). Does this sound like something someone in my position would do? I would have to get a job in Atlanta to be able to do this, and a roommate. My family is totally on board with this (although they still don鈥檛 know I鈥檓 gay).





I know I鈥檒l be so much happier once I can be myself. Instead of trying to figure out about which people will accept me, I鈥檒l finally be able to assume that more people around me do.





The only problem is that right now, I鈥檓 terrified! I鈥檝e spent so much time daydreaming about how amazing it would be to go to a more tolerant place that I completely forgot that it would mean leaving everything I currently know.





I don鈥檛 know where to meet people in Atlanta (as it stands now, I make new friends through my current friends) and I鈥檝e never been on my own before!





So I guess my questions are: How do I make gay-friendly and gay friends in Atlanta? How could I make sure that my new roommate is either a woman or another gay guy? What should my overall firsts step in making sure I have a smooth transition into a big city?





I can't thank you enough for actually reading all of this, and thanks again for anyone who replies! This is such a terrifying exciting time in my life, but I know it will all end in the best way possible :) Thanks everyone!|||You are making a great move to Atlanta and you would be able to fit in. For your friend don't do her like that because she was truthful with you. Another people wouldn't even want to still be your friend. If I was you I would go visit the the school and mingle so that you can find a suitable roommate that best fit you. Just be careful and safe. Don't be scared to leave because when you transfer you will be in a city of opportunity.