When I came out my parents looked at me in shock. I thought it was already known in my household as I recall coming out four times previously. The family is quite religious. They simply stated that “you know what preference we prefer.” My mother later stated she wishes she did not send me to my place of education. (F/Bisexual)
Story #2680
When I came out, I was talking to my friend. I had already come out to myself, and she is one of the only people who is not religious where I live and that is why I could not/cannot come out to my family or other friends. We were in private, and I decided I would finally come out. I got really shaky, and I almost cried a bit, and I said, “You know how I flirt with girls? Well, that is fake.” (I pretended to have huge crushes on girls so that no one would suspect anything. I was also really bad at flirting because I had no actual attraction to them.) She whispered, “So, are you gay?” and I nodded and she said, “Oh my gosh, that is totally OK, that makes so much sense.” That is when the tears really started and I am so grateful for her. She is still really supportive and hasn’t told anyone. I feel so much better. Still haven’t come out to anyone else, because again, everyone is super religious. (M/14/Gay)
Story #2679
When I came out first, I was like 11 or so. It was to my parents; I told my mother first that I was a lesbian. She was really supportive and my dad was too. I told it almost immediately, so they were a great help. Then, around half a year ago, I realised I wasn’t a girl. I first thought I was a demigirl, but after a while I realised I was nonbinary. My parents supported me again, but they needed time to adjust. Now they really try to use my pronouns, but it is hard to them. At school it’s worse; I am out to my friends, but they never use my right pronouns. My class can be really homophobic and that hurts. There is one boy I think is okay; however, he says really mean stuff, not to my face, but I can hear it… I hope it gets better, and I hope that everyone can be who they are. Never give up! (Nonbinary/13/Lesbian)
Story #2678
When I came out today to my new friend, she told me that she always felt nervous around a shared friend of ours. I told her I liked that same friend too. We were both squealing and hugging each other because we finally found someone else who shares the same sexuality. (F/Bisexual)
Story #2677
When I came out, I did it in a letter, writing it online and then showing it to my parents from my computer. The first thing they both said was that they knew, and they had read my messages to my friends — I had come out to my friends gradually and explained it fully to them that day. It was a bit of a stressful process because my parents sat me down and asked me every question they could (my anxiety made me really stressed out so I was crying), and it took a while for them to adjust. My parents say they try with pronouns, but they also say that “my generation labels ourselves too much and they don’t have to use my preferred pronouns because of that”. They’re super supportive of other people but have a hard time adjusting to me (even three years later). However, my friends are amazingly supportive and ask me my pronouns each day – for other genderfluid kids: you are loved and valid and supported and should find your people who love you. (Genderfluid/15/Panromantic/asexual)
Story #2676
When I came out, it wasn’t always easy. I have known that I was queer since I was 9 or 10 though, because I always felt a connection to the LGBTQ+ community. I liked my female friend when I was 11 and decided I was bisexual. When I was 12, I realized that I really didn’t like guys at all, and lesbian fit me better. After starting middle school, I began to feel dysphoric, but I couldn’t understand why. Eventually, I came out to my parents as a demigirl, but they weren’t always supportive. However, I am now 13 and I would like to use they/she pronouns. I am a proud lesbian :). I am going to get the short haircut I have wanted for a while in a week! It’s not always easy to be queer, but it gets better. (Demigirl/13/Lesbian)
Story #2675
When I came out (to my friends) I was 13 years old and had just realized my obsession with Jade West was suspicious, to say the least. I remember watching Victorious for the second time when it came to Netflix and all those feelings I had for Jade when I was 9 or 10 came back and it became clear to me that there was one reason why I simply hated Beck for no apparent reason, that I wanted to see Jade and Tori kiss and that I overlooked Jade’s cruelty, and that reason was I was infatuated with that woman. Since that moment it all came back to me, all the signs I (and everyone I know) had ignored and in hindsight I was extremely gay as a child and never really hid it. Oh yeah and my family still doesn’t know. (F/17/Lesbian?)
Story #2674
When I came out, I had a crush on my friend who is 3 years older than me. She’s religious but I knew that she wasn’t against LGBTQ. I thought about my feelings for a while and I had lost my feelings for her because we respect each other and support each other a lot and I didn’t want to lose that. I was terrified to come out to her and I also confessed that I had a crush on her but I no longer did. She took it so well and said that she fully supports me and that my sexuality doesn’t change how she views me and I just feel so relieved and happy to have someone who supports and cares about me. (F/13/Lesbian)
Story #2673
When I came out I was twelve and had just gone to high school, which was the first place I ever thought about the word “gay,” as it was frequently used as a joke and insult. My best friend was chill though, and it gave me the courage to come out to my family. If people see this, know that it’s scary but if the people in your life are worth it then they will accept you for who you are lol. (M/15/Gay?)
Story #2672
When I came out, I was twelve years old at the time. I don’t really remember the context that well, but I did turn to my mum and say: ‘I might be gay.’ This was followed by awkward silence, to which I peered over to see she was typing out a Facebook post: ‘My twelve year old just came out to me as gay, do I give them the talk’. Humiliated, I just took it back. Two years later I tested the waters, coming out as bisexual, to which I was told, ‘everyone starts out that way, you’re confused.’ My friends have all been supportive, it’s just my parents that I have to deal with now. I have yet to mention that I use she/they pronouns. (Demigirl/17/Lesbian)