When I came out, I think everyone knew. From a young age I always showed affection for females and males in media, and not following their attractiveness of tropes. I always needed to feel a deep connection with the character through development of their personitude in storytelling. When I was young, I met my bestest friend. I immediately fell in love, fawning over her for years. When I told my mother, she smiled and told me she would support me no matter who I wanted to be, or who I loved. At this point in my life, I identify as demisexual and demiromantic. Although I am assigned female at birth, I prefer he/they pronouns… Sadly I have only come out about that part of my identity to a small group of friends who were supportive; however, I am not in contact with them anymore. (Demiboy/16/Demiromantic/demisexual)
Story #2569
When I came out, I think I had known since I was around 14-15. I initially came out as ace, and now lesbian. I had a minor crush on one of my classmates – who I didn’t know was bi at the time – and one day at a sleepover, we were playing truth or dare with my friend group. And then the dreaded question came up: Do you like anyone? I took a deep breath, and told them I had a crush on [the girl] and that I was gay. Everyone was super supportive. It has been about 2 years since then, and I am forever grateful for my friends. We always insult each other jokingly and they have been there for me like family, even when my own parents weren’t. They asked me if I was planning to come out to my parents and I said no. My parents are super homophobic and transphobic. They are traditional and even if I was straight, they wouldn’t want me dating anyone not of my race (I’m South Indian btw). I am happy with my identity and the things I’ve learned about myself, and my parents can’t change that. (F/16/Lesbian/ace)
Story #2568
When I came out I first came out to my friends in my drama class. I was 11 and knew for a really long time that I was a lesbian because of how I had never gotten any crushes on boys but only girls. I also had a major crush on my friend since the beginning of the year. So they were talking about how many people they knew that were LGBTQ and they then asked me. I was super scared and so I just said “me”. And it turns out they were super accepting and one of them was gay too and the girl I have a crush on is bi. I haven’t come out to my parents yet but I have given lots of clues so idk how they don’t know yet? (F/12/LESBEAN🏳️🌈)
Story #2567
When I came out, I said, “Mom, I like girls.” She responded with, “Wait, you thought we didn’t already know?” Apparently, I accidentally came out a year earlier and didn’t even notice. I don’t even remember what it was that I said to out myself at that time, but it makes for an interesting story, I guess! (F/22/Lesbian)
Story #2566
When I came out, I was outed. It was pretty sh*tty. My mother found out by reading my journal and then screamed at me saying that I’m not a man trapped in a woman’s body and that I’m born a woman, will live as a woman and die a woman. Then she cried telling me to not have sex change surgery when I become an adult. This happened when I was 13, I think. I even had a nightmare recently based on it where my mom grabbed the journal and carved “you are a woman” and she carved it on the table too and held a knife to my neck saying, “You’re a woman.” My mom told my dad during my tucute nonbinary phase that I didn’t ‘feel’ like a girl and he said, “You’re turning into a lady”. I hate my life. I wish I had the right body. I wish gender dysphoria never existed. (M/14 almost 15)
Story #2565
When I came out as omnisexual and bigender to my parents, they were at first surprised and quickly accepted me after I explained to them. However, my friends were disgusted and left me. It’s been hard but now I found a new friend group and everything is fine. Sometimes I wonder what would happen if I were to not come out to my old friends, but I mostly shrug it off and try to have a good time. (Bigender/16/Omnisexual)
Story #2564
When I came out, it was through text to my dad. I had been “out” to my friends in school, but never came out until that day. I was on vacation with my mom and built up the courage to send a coming out text to my dad. He was supportive, and we spoke more about it when I came back, but I made the mistake of saying I wasn’t bothered by my birth name and she/her (true) so now I have to build up the courage (and grow an year older, he said I was probably too young to be sure, which hurt a little, but he’s trying) to ask him to call me by my new name and pronouns and get a binder lol (Demiboy trans FtM/13/Omni/demiromantic)
Story #2563
When I came out, I was 21 and identified as demiromantic and a demiboy. Everything was hard and heartbreaking when my mom and dad said that they only wanted a cisgender and heterosexual son, not some abomination. My friends were even worse and called me rude names and left. Nowadays, I try to have a good time. I joined a Pride Group on Facebook and I’m supported by numerous people and I love it; however, I don’t talk to my family and its hard, but I know I’m accepted by my community. (Demiboy/30/Demiromantic)
Story #2562
When I came out as bisexual I was 18 years old. My mom didn’t believe me. Nowadays she does and calls my bisexuality, “sexual urges”. My dad and my siblings accept me as a bisexual. Recently I figured out that I am gender fluid. Most days I feel like a guy. Other days I feel like a girl. My dad accepts me but he is still processing that I am gender fluid because I told him yesterday. I came out to my older brother and he accepts me. All I have to do is tell my sisters. (F/24/Bisexual/genderfluid)
Story #2561
When I came out to my friend group it was the biggest weight off my shoulders. I had known since I was 14 and I knew my family wouldn’t care but I was so scared to tell my friends because of stuff they said in the past and they all had boyfriends. I told them while on a ski trip with school at 17 and I had never been more scared in my life that they wouldn’t treat me the same but once I got the words out I received nothing but support and I’m so grateful for them. (F/18/Lesbian)