When I came out as pansexual, I told two of my friends first, because they were interviewing me (I interviewed another friend and found out they were non-binary) and asked about my sexuality. While I was extremely nervous, these two friends are also LGBTQ+, and I knew they would be supportive. As expected they were, and accepted me immediately. Because of this positive experience, I was able to come out to most of my other friends, many of which are also LGBTQ+, but I still have not come out to my parents. (Demigirl/Pansexual)
Story #2350
When I came out it was to my sister, first as ace and then as a lesbian. She was a little confused but asked questions and was really supportive. I haven’t told anyone else yet but I do want to tell my parents, only I’m not sure how my Dad will react. He has been a little homophobic in the past. (F/16/Lesbian/ace)
Story #2349
When I came out I was just hitting the stage in life where we kids were developing crushes. All my friends had crushes on boys but I always thought that this girl named Riley was pretty and I wanted to hold hands with her. I didn’t officially come out to my family until I was in 6th grade when my homophobic grandmother was being mean to a drag queen. She asked me if I was gay in the most disgusted voice imaginable and although I was scared I put my hands on my hips, stood up tall, and proudly said, “Yes, as a matter of fact I am.” She was so dumbfounded she had to wait until we got home to come up with a response. (Male [FtM]/14/Fraysexual panromantic)
Story #2348
When I came out, I was 18 and showering. My mom came in and asked whether I was interested in any boys at my school. I said no, which was true. Then she asked if there were any girls I liked. I didn’t expect the question and I was nervous so I said: maybe. I had a crush on a girl but I didn’t want to tell her so I wasn’t completely honest. It was more uncomfortable since I was under the shower and naked. Even though I didn’t fully come out, ever since this conversation my mom always talks about future husbands AND wives. That makes me happy. (Genderfluid/18/Lesbian)
Story #2347
When I came out was from the end of my 8th grade year to the beginning of 9th grade. I told some kids at my school who I thought I could trust. I ended up getting bullied, though. Despite all that I still have friends that support me. Coming out to my mom was the hardest part. Especially when my step dad makes rude comments to transgender people in public. She had a hard time accepting me at first but she is slowly adjusting. I am still coming out so some of my family to this day. (M/15/Transgender)
Story #2346
When I came out to my family, it was terrifying since my mother is religious and doesn’t think lgbtq+ is a real thing. I already came out to my dad and mother; my dad was totally cool with it, while my mother not so much. She said I had “sinned” and what I was feeling wasn’t love, but lust, and told me I needed to ask God for forgiveness. It hurts since before she’d always tell me and my sibling that we could tell her anything and shouldn’t be scared to talk to her. I haven’t come out to my brother yet since I don’t know how he’ll react, but all of my online friends know I’m panromantic and accept me for who I am. PS: Don’t let anyone pressure you into coming out; take your time. I unfortunately made that mistake. (F/14-15/Panromantic/demisexual)
Story #2345
When I came out to my friends as bisexual (I’m not anymore), it was in the major wave of Covid-19, so I had to do most of it over email, which made it really hard for me to tell anyone in person. Now I talk to my close friends (one is bisexual, the other is genderfluid/aro-ace) freely about my sexuality and gender and feel much more comfortable in my skin. Recently I have been going through a sort of gender crisis and use they/them pronouns, and my friends have been amazing, but I’m terrified to tell my parents. I think they’re catching on, but I’m not ready to tell them yet, regardless of how much I hate being misgendered by them. (Agender/13/Lesbian)
Story #2344
When I came out to my best friend, she told me congrats and that she accepted me, which felt amazing. I’m not out to my parents and I’m not sure if they know. The other day I was in the car with my mom and she told me that she would accept me no matter what, and she gave me the perfect opportunity to come out and I didn’t take it. I’m not ready. I keep telling myself that I can tell my parents September 7, 2022, because then it will have been exactly one year since I first came out. I don’t know if I can do it. I don’t talk to my parents about things like this and opening up to anybody, really, isn’t something I do. (F/14/Bisexual)
Story #2343
When I came out to my friends as aromantic and asexual, they were extremely nice and supportive (one is bisexual and the other is lesbian/agender). When I came out to my mom, she told my dad (which I was actually kind of grateful for) and they were both pretty nice about it. I told my mom I was girlflux (I’m not anymore) and we talked about it and she didn’t tell my dad. I haven’t officially told my parents that I’m genderfluid and I don’t think that I will. (Genderfluid/Aroace)
Story #2342
When I came out, I was sitting in a park with my cousin and made a joke about not being straight. When my cousin picked up on the joke, she laughed and told me she was not straight either. We talked about it a lot more, and I was really happy since she was the first other queer person I’d ever been able to confide in and discuss my identity with. (F/14/Bisexual)