Hiding is a Scary Thing

I'm reading this book, called Geography Club by Brent Hartinger, and it's about this gay adolenscent who thinks he's the only gay person in his school. He starts meeting other teens, though, who are gay like him. I'm at a part where they meet up and talk about how they feel. These people barely know each other and they're telling things to each other they haven't told even their best friends. People need to hide their real selves from their friends in fear they won't be accepted by them. Imagine having to hide yourself from your best friend. It would hurt, wouldn't it? People shouldn't have to go through this.
If a friend comes out to you, don't freak out. Please, even if you don't understand your friend, support them. Maybe you'll see in time that they are indeed the same person that they were before they told you who they've been hiding.
They are still who they are, and they are still your friend.