When I Came Out

When I came out I was 21 and the first person I had to come out to was myself. I’d thought about it for years but it was only about 6 months before that I didn’t immediately dismiss it. I texted one of my best friends so that I couldn’t immediately backtrack from it and it later transpired that he was bi. Coming out for me was part of a long process of gaining confidence and self-acceptance. I still haven’t come out to my parents but I hope to soon.

When I came out to my sister, we were on our way to a basketball game. On the bus, she sat next to me and I began to shake. She asked what was wrong and I just showed her a picture of me and this girl that I’ve been crushing on since August. I was crying so hard and ruined my cheer uniform, but she looked up and smiled and said, “You’re my sister; I’ve known forever.”

When I came out alongside my girlfriend to one of her friends, the friend came out to us, too. She said she found us both beautiful and that she had been wishing either of us was gay since she met us, and congratulated us.

When I came out to my parents, I was sucking face. With another guy. They walked in on us in a closet and well…. they found out.

When I came out my mom was like, “Yes, I knew it!” I wasn’t shocked that they–my family–were okay with me liking other girls. My family is all about acceptance, and I knew they’d be completely okay with it, but it still took me about 5 years to “officially” come out. (I’m 17, but I’ve undoubtedly known since I was 12.)

When I came out, officially a couple of months ago, my family basically shrugged their shoulders and said it didn’t matter because if I liked other girls, it was still a part of me, and they loved me as a whole. Some friends were shocked, while the majority said it made sense. I’ve known I’ve been into girls since age 12 when girls start to crush on guys, and my mom was waiting for me to to be comfortable to “officially” come out. I was lucky and I hope the best for others to have someone that accepts them completely like my family did.

When I came out I didn’t know it. My father found a paper with a list of people’s initials I had a crush on. After I lied about the names on the list he pulled the other list out with the names that go to the initials. After a long talk they say they accept me but their actions prove different. Now it’s one of those family secrets no one speaks about.

When I came out as poly the day after coming out as bi, my parents were completely unaccepting. They blamed my husband, the fact that we’re atheist, and my therapist for making me this way. They told me they couldn’t understand why I insisted on being weird. It really hurt, but I still think I did the right thing.

When I came out to my parents they were shocked but surprisingly completely okay with it. Now my siblings have found out too and they don’t really care much. My friends are the most supportive and some of them have come out as bi or bi curious too!

When I came out to my mom, it was through a picture on Facebook of me smiling because of my current girlfriend. I called my mom and told her that I like girls and she was confused, but she said she loves me no matter what and that she just wants me to be happy.