When I came out to my parents it was because I just couldn’t sleep that night. I stood in front of my parents room pacing. I guess they heard me, because they called me in and asked what was wrong. I wanted to say “next year in English (my family is multi-cultural, and we speak Spanish and Portuguese at home, which don’t really have gender-neutral pronouns) I want to use he/they/she pronouns.” I ended up saying “Today in English class…” I realized what I was saying and stopped. My parents started asking me what happened in English class. Eventually I told them that I wanted to use she/they/he pronouns, and that I am part boy, part nonbinary, part girl, (and a little bit agender, but I didn’t say that part). Since then, I’ve come out at school because I have a very supportive school. Many of my friends are queer or allies. But from my parents I’ve received lectures about how I don’t need to know everything now, and how everyone has bit of every gender inside of them. I am still a girl to them. But I know who I am. And I am demigender and proud (and femaric). (Demigender/11/Femaric)
Story #2740
When I came out it felt so freeing. It’s only been 2 months since I first came out to my best friends, but the more people I’ve come out to (8 friends currently) the more I find myself to just not care as much anymore and come out a lot more easily. And I’ve finally mostly accepted myself for the first time and my advice is if you have close friends that you love, and they love you, it gets better when you come out to them. I know it’s scary, but it gets easier every time and if you have friends that accept you your life gets easier. Haven’t come out to my mom yet and probably never will come out to my dad 🙁 (M/16/Gay)
Story #2739
When I came out as bi (to son and bi daughter), it was a couple months after my wife/their mom passed. Wife knew I was bi. Both kids very accepting/supportive. (M/65/Queer)
Story #2738
When I came out to my best friend about a year ago, he was a little confused, but supportive, and now I talk to him about all the guys I have crushes on and we joke and laugh about it. More recently I came out to my school counselors, and honestly I had figured they already knew, but they didn’t. They knew I had something I wasn’t comfortable telling them, and that it was the source of my high levels of anxiety and depression, but after telling them I saw everything just click into place and it was really validating and satisfying to find out how supportive they are. And now they want updates on if I start talking to someone lol. It is nice to know that there are people in my hometown of less than a thousand mostly Christian people that accept me for me. (M/16/Homosexual)
Story #2737
When I came out, my mom was working from home in my parents’. My dad was downstairs. I was sick of hiding who I was. I’d been secretly not wearing the bras my mom bought me and I’d been experiencing intense gender dysphoria. I went into my mom’s room and asked, “What’s your opinion on nonbinary people?” Her response was, “I don’t really have an opinion on them. Why?” I glanced around the room. “Okay then,” my mom sighed. She called my dad upstairs to have a private discussion. I was crying. The night before, I’d asked my mom, “What do I do if I don’t want to tell you something because I’m afraid you won’t understand or think it’s valid?” And me being nonbinary was the thing. After the discussion, my parents said they believe that I feel nonbinary. They said they’d get me bra substitutes. But refused to refrain from using feminine labels and said they would keep calling me by she/her. I took it as a half-win.
Story #2736
When I came out I was just casually gaming with my best friend, when he suddenly out of nowhere asked, “Are you gay?” I had an internal oh shit moment and then decided to answer truthfully, because I’m a bad liar. We rarely-never spoke about it and that was all. But the emotional stress in that situation was unbelievable. (M/Gay)
Story #2735
When I came out, I was 15. It was my freshman year of high school and I was at a new school. I had come to realize over the summer that I am a trans male. I came out to my friends and told them my new name and they accepted me. When I started school I introduced myself to teachers, friends, peers, as ethan. It felt amazing to finally feel like myself. However, my parents still didn’t know. One day, one of my favourite teachers wrote a really sweet and kind note about me using my name, ethan. It was sent in an email to my parents. I ended up getting student of the month and on the certificate it had my name on it. So, I decided to tell my parents that day. Hoping that I’d be able to tell them before the email did. I told them. They were supportive and accepting, I couldn’t have asked for more. It was amazing. I finally feel like me. (Transmasc genderfluid/Trans male/15/ Pansexual/demisexual/demiromantic)
Story #2734
When I came out to my mom I first tried to come out over a phone call. I was so scared, all I could say to her was that I had been wearing girls clothes. I felt ashamed and embarrassed as I hung up and went to work. Before I clocked in I texted her the full truth and that I was sorry for lying to her, that I wanted to be her daughter. Now my mother, to her great shame, had fallen asleep after our call that morning. She left that text unopened for 3 hours of blind panic at work. She did accept me. She later had some fumbles with our relationship but I am very proud of how she handled my coming out (F/28/Trans feminine)
Story #2733
When I came out I was around late twelve/early 13. I basically had a hunch in fifth grade but I was so confused. I was attracted to a bunch of random girls and didn’t have a full crush until 7th grade which is when I told my friends. I’ve only told two people irl but they’re accepting of it. Coming out for real is honestly super scary because what if all the girls in my grade are disgusted with me (I go to a small school). And idk some of my friends also gay jokes and I don’t want anyone to see me differently. (F/14/Lesbian)
Story #2732
When I came out, I was at Glastonbury festival watching a band. This bloke started making lude comments to the artist. I said between songs that you are not her type. He replied, drunk, so are you. I said no. A woman said that she was gay. When this man started saying that all gay people shouldn’t be able to attend Glastonbury, they should be forced to leave, I said are you going to make me leave then for being gay. People around were saying good for you in standing up for yourself and others. One of my friends just said I don’t suppose you wanted to come out like that. Nothing else was said. We still have a good friendship and go to gigs. (M/52/Gay)