When I came out, I was teased and even abused. My father was a conservative and he worked for our town mayor and he was never fond of the LGBTQ+ community. And ever since my mom passed away, my father only got worse and started drinking. I mustered up the courage to tell that I liked both boys and girls. He shot me this dirty look and called me names before dragging my hair and throwing me into my room. When I came out to my school, which was a Christian school, everyone laughed and made fun of me. But, I will find acceptance and I won’t let people bring me down. (F/16/Bisexual)
Story #2581
When I came out, I was 12 years old. My older brother and I were playing Monopoly and talking about school and stuff until he brought up the dreaded topic: dating. He was telling me about this girl he was dating. I mustered up the courage to tell my brother that I liked girls. He was at first surprised but he hugged me and told me he loved me no matter what. (F/13/Lesbian)
Story #2580
When I came out as aroace it was completely unintentional. A lot of my friends and I were talking during break about one of my friends’ unhealthy obsession with the moon and another one of my friends explained it as such: “If the moon was a girl, he’d marry her.” To which I replied, “Too bad, most moongoddesses are aroace.” (I had that one quote from OSP stuck in my head.) When somebody else asked what aroace was, the second friend explained it really quickly with ending: “So, basically me.” I was all, “You’re aroace?! I’m aroace!” And the friend with the moon obsession was all like, “I’m just ace 🙂 ” It was the greatest day of my life. So that’s how I came out to all of my school friends (and some of them came out with me). (F/17/Aroace)
Story #2579
When I came out, it was pretty unplanned. I went out for dinner with my mom and brother, and we were just talking while waiting for our food to arrive when somehow the topic of dating came up. I told them that boys are disgusting and I didn’t want a boyfriend, and then my mom asked if I wanted a girlfriend instead. I took a deep breath, and said yes, and told them I am lesbian. Hopefully I will come out to my dad soon but I have no idea what his reaction will be. Good luck to y’all closeted people( if you’re planning to come out)! (F/11/Lesbian)
Story #2578
When I first came out when I was 12 I came out as ftm and bi. Well, not exactly, I was outed because I had a severe mental breakdown and couldn‘t handle lying anymore. Afterwards I got told I was “confused” and that I was going through a “phase”. I also had to befriend and unfriend some people because my mom thought they were a bad influence and made me that way. The people I befriended turned out to be some degree of homophobic too. Nowadays I‘m 14 and I still feel this way. I often cry because I feel dysphoric. I‘m scared of coming out too because of what happened last time, but I think my family would be more supportive this time. (They/he/14/Masc non-binary/pansexual)
Story #2577
When I came out, I sitting on the porch swing with my older sister as we shared stories from our day. I hesitated with a knot in my stomach for a while before finally summoning the courage to say, “I need to tell you something. You know {my friend’s name}? Well, we are dating. I’m gay.” My sister turned to me with a big smile. She wrapped her arm around my shoulder, pulling me close as she whispered, “Thank you for being you.” I’ll never forget that. (M/17/Gay)
Story #2576
When I came out I was exhausted. I was stressed with school (grades, choices, career paths, etc.) and I had been having some issues with my sister screaming at us a lot and ruining our family evenings. My mom had also just returned from the hospital after suffering a stroke while we were on vacation. I was losing sleep, and I was lying in bed with my dad, and he told me that everything was going to be okay. I told him that I was dysphoric and that I may be non-binary. He was very supportive, but I told him not to tell anybody else because I’m still unsure what they would say. I am writing this the same evening of this happening. I should probably go to school, but I nearly cried of joy. (Non-binary/Bi)
Story #2575
When I came out I knew I was trans and had always been a boy. I had a bag of safety emergency stuff, and my mom found it and looked through it and it had info on me being trans. She kinda outed me to my dad ASAP (I’m a little upset). We talked that evening all together, and I kinda had to come out. It went overall well; my parents are still learning and had to challenge everything I said (quite annoying), but they love me and it is working out. Good luck to you all!!!! (Transgender [FtM]/13/Gay/bisexual)
Story #2574
When I came out maybe half a year ago, I had been kinda out as a non-binary person, but it wasn’t said out loud or anything. But then I started feeling uncomfortable being labeled as she / a girl and my old name felt like a hustle as well. My parents divorced, my mum is a psychologist and she married a dude that has the same profession so first, I came out to them. I expected them to be understanding but…They said they respect my gender identity, but still misgender me, use my deadname etc, and when I wanted a binder they rejected, and took me to a psychologist to try to prove to me I have some kind of trauma or I don’t even know. I became distant with my family because I can’t even begin to come out to them. It is just a whole mess and I’m waiting to just reach 18 years and change my name / start transition. (Transmasc/15)
Story #2573
When I came out, I was 18, and my parents just laughed and said they suspected it when I started dressing a bit masculine when I was 10. I’m loved and accepted by my friends and family. (F/24/Lesbian)