coming out of the closet

I don't have experience with this, but I think it might be good to come out first (about being gay) and see what sort of response you get, before going on to say that you are sexually attracted to your friend (assuming that is what you mean when you say that you like him).

Assuming he's not gay, as far as you know. If he is openly gay/bi, then I don't see any reason not to tell all at the same time.

i think these things should be said separately

if he is open minded as you say there should be no problem telling him you're gay. I should wait a while before you plunge into the "but i like...er...you" part, otherwise it's a bit hard to handle all in one take I guess. that is for both i mean.

http://home.arcor.de/k.tibe/bjpe/images/misc2/images/BJPEjosh025.jpg

but are you planning to come out on christmas? I hate that word, btw.

Try to be clear about things. I had an embarrassing mix up with a gay man who I knew for a little while and who said at one point, "I'm just looking for friends," which I over-interpreted as meaning that he understood that I was not interested in other men and was letting me know that he was interested in just pursuing a friendship. When I got back to him quite a bit later and invited him to dinner, he figured (not unreasonably), "Ah ha, he tracked me down [he had changed phone numbers] and now he's inviting me to dinner: this is a date." As we talked over dinner, it became more and more clear that he thought I was gay, but I got all flustered about telling him otherwise. Finally when he directly asked, "So how did your religious family respond when you told them you were gay?" I had to fill him in.

(I have to admit I was a lot closer to being attracted to him than I have ever been to another guy.)

Vic. LOL.