I've been online since I was a teen in the mid-'90s. I've always assumed that one of the perks of the internet is the opportunity to have an alter ego "for fun." Not to troll, harass, scam, or hurt people, but just to socialize in a different way. If someone shows up in an old-style chat room and says, "Hi, I'm Susie," I have no idea if her name is "really" Susie or if she's even a woman, and it doesn't matter. Unless I emotionally bond with her or need to trust her for some reason, it's none of my business. She wants to be Susie online. Great. When I see someone's online handle, I'm very aware that I'm interacting with an "account" that may or may not be a transparent view into that person's real life. I use my real name, photo, etc. online, but that's my choice, and my social privileges allow me to do it. Other people have different constraints and make different choices, and I'm not mad. Maybe they're gay online under a fake name because they're trying to decide if it feels right to them and find the courage to come out. Maybe they're already using their real name to be gay online but they haven't yet made their first gay friend offline in the "real world." They might decide not to be gay, after all. Who is mad? They're accountable to themselves, and I hope they like the person they are. I'm so glad they have an outlet to experiment and I hope it's safe and fun for them.