Story #2452

When I came out I was 15 and at school. It was obvious that I was gay and I never really tried to hide it but would always deny it when asked. My best friend kept asking me who I liked and I kept deflecting the question. One day, after weeks of planning how I would say it, I said that I would tell her who I liked. She figured out that I was trying to come out but was scared to say the words. She asked me, “You’re gay? I’ve known since 3rd grade” and then we hugged and talked about it for a while. (M/15/Gay)

Story #2451

When I came out to my two best friends they were totally cool with it. I was scared they might be weird about it or hate me, but they just asked some questions and said they still loved me. I haven’t told my parents, but I’m going to soon. (F/12/Lesbian)

Story #2450

When I came out, I was 15 years old and on a pit stop at Starbucks during a high school field trip. While we waited for our drinks, my friend asked me outright if I was gay. And through tears, I said yes, and that I had never told anyone before—she hadn’t known it would be my first time coming out. Thank you to everyone who posted their stories on here; they gave so much strength to a closeted gay teen. (M/24/Gay)

Story #2449

When I came out, it was first to one of my closest friends, in January, and I was a stuttering mess; very embarrassing. She just smiled, and we continued with our day (I don’t believe she understood what I said since I was mumbling and stuttering). I came out properly to her last month. I came out to most of my friends and they’ve all been accepting since pretty much all my friends are part of the LGBTQ+ community, and it made me really happy. I came out to my mom and she is supporting, but doesn’t understand too well. I might come out to my sister and dad during pride month, but who knows. (F/13/Aroace [aromantic greysexual])

Story #2448

When I came out I was maybe 11 or 12. I was in the living room with my oldest sibling and my parents. (Both my siblings knew and are also queer.) All I said was “I’m bi.” My mom looked at me and said, “We don’t care who you love” and left. I know she meant that she’s accepting but it still kinda was strange. I had come out to one of my closest friends a few days before and he’s really accepting and is aroace. Most of my friends I never came out came out but I make jokes about how pretty girls are and stuff like that. More recently I thought about my gender and realized I am bigender and use she/him pronouns. All my friends who know were/are really accepting or were just like ‘okay’ (most of my friends are also LGBTQ+ so I expected this). (Bigender/13/Demiromantic/demisexual/bisexual)

Story #2447

When I came out for the first time, I was 12 and came out to my good friend about being pan. She is cishet, and was and still is really Christian. I told her and she said, “Isn’t (insert friend’s name here) gay too?” I didn’t know that, and we have been friends since she moved to where I live at 4. I go ask them, she apparently uses she/they and is lesbian. THEY DIDN’T TELL ME! So I came out to them, and she called me gay. We haven’t talked in 2 months, since she moved. I also came out as genderfluid to my transmasc friend today and he replied “forg” (I sent a genderfluid frog) (Genderfluid/14/Pan/mono)

Story #2446

When I came out as aroace, it was to a friend who is also ace. Just for fun, we were playing the asexuality quiz on Wiki How and both got ace (we both already knew we were ace). We’ve known each other for 6 years, and we could understand each other without saying anything, which is really nice. I also told a few other friends that I am ace, and they were really nice about it, and not awkward like I had feared. I haven’t come out about being a demigirl yet, and I haven’t come out at all to my parents, even though they’re really supportive. I did put the flags that represent me on a bracelet; I figure that if someone knows enough about LGBTQIA+ and cares enough to ask, they’re worth giving a brief explanation. (Demigirl/13/Aroace)

Story #2445

When I came out it was to my mom. I told her that I wish I was born as a boy and how I hated myself for being and seen as a girl. My mom was very disappointed at me and told me I will never be one and always be a girl and how I have to wear dresses and skirts in school. She told me that she doesn’t support and included God, that God won’t support people like these and how they will get blind, get cancer, and also deaf. COVID-19 too. (Male FtM/13/Gay)

Story #2444

When I came out for the first time, I was a sophomore in college. I was really drunk and hadn’t even fully admitted it to myself yet, but it felt so good to have a space where people and didn’t treat me any differently. Now, four years later, I came out to my religious family. My siblings were really supportive, but I think my parents are struggling with it. I can tell they’re trying to understand and love me anyway, but it really hurt me to hear them talk about their beliefs that being gay is “just as bad” as being a thief or an abuser. (F/22/Bisexual)

Story #2443

When I came out it was in the middle of a mental breakdown. My friends and brother had known beforehand, but I was too scared to tell my parents. When I finally did, they accepted me for who I am and understood not to tell my extended family (homophobia). I am coming out to my extended family soon. Wish me luck! (F/Bisexual or lesbian)