When I came out I was 9 years old. I knew I was a girl so I came out to my best friend, who supported me. I haven’t come out at abro or aceflux yet, but I really hope everybody upports me when I do! (MTF/10/Abro/aceflux)
Story #2416
When I came out at 13, it was to my large friend group. With a few kids being LGBTQIA, I knew they would likely accept me. They were super proud and happy, and my coming out helped one friend identify as demiromantic demisexual. I tried to come out to my parents, but they didn’t listen/told me not to label myself/said I was ‘too young to know’. I talked with my religious mom, and was explaining the difference between being single, and being asexual, when I randomly asked the question “Is it ok if I identify as aroace for now?” It took some work, but I think she’s ok with it! I’m really excited, because I was having to hide my identity, but I am now out of the closet, and so much happier for it. (Librafeminine (she/her)/Under 18/AroAce)
Story #2415
When I came out to my mum she asked why this happened to them. We live in a religious household and one of my siblings came out before me, which took a while to accept. She did tell me that they love all of us. I know they won’t put any efforts into understanding the lgbt community but at least I know they care.
Story #2414
When I came out to my sister and my parents last year, I was 40 years old. It was a very long time coming working out my sexuality, having previously felt very confused and like I was broken since I was a teenager. I grew up during Section 28 in the UK when sexuality was a banned topic in schools, not to mention that asexuality was just not even ‘a thing’; even when I did first hear the term I didn’t think it applied to me as I had no idea of the whole asexuality spectrum. It feels great to finally understand myself and to not feel so alone. I’m still a mixture of jumbled up emotions and feel ‘exposed’ as if I’ve released a deeply held secret to the world and I’m going to be caught out somehow but I have lots of hope that these will subside and happiness at being my authentic true self to my friends and family will take over. (F/40/Panromantic asexual)
Story #2413
When I came out to myself, I was 14, and thought that I was bisexual, but then at 16, I learnt about asexuality, and thought I was Biromantic Grayace. But then as time passed, I identified as Non-Binary at 19, and with weird feelings towards guys, I realized I was a lesbian at 20, but always felt like I didn’t fit in with the really sexual and romantic feelings of being a grayace lesbian. So now, I realized that I’m Grayaro too! So on the aroace spectrum with a lesbian orientation. I’ve come out to almost all my friends, who are supportive, but my parents are in denial. But I’ve found a beautiful accepting community along my journey of coming out and discovering my identity. (Non-binary/20/Gray aroace lesbian)
Story #2412
When I came out to my mom, I returned home from my first pride parade. I came out as bi initially to my friends one month prior, who accepted me instantly, but my mom didn’t take it well. She dismissed my coming out as “just a fad” and, upon asking what bisexuality was, kept interrupting to argue that “you’re either gay or straight.” My dad doesn’t accept my identity either and they still believe I’m faking it because it’s “trendy.” I’m just relieved my sister supports me unwaveringly and encourages me to show the world I’m not afraid. (M/27/Gay)
Story #2411
When I came out, my dad did most of the work for me. Music was playing and my dad brought up that I had something in common with a famous artist. I asked what he meant and he said that we were both pan. I’m really glad because I don’t have enough confidence to do it myself. (Girlflux?/11/Ace/pan)
Story #2410
When I came out, I was back home with my parents for the Christmas break, and we were watching a comedy. At one point I asked, “Would it make a difference if someone I loved was a guy or a girl?” The answer was a simple “of course not.” I thought there would be some sort of euphoria, or pride that I finally had the courage to come out… but it was just… calm. Calm and certainty. This moment of realisation, the knowledge that I could finally be who I truly am, was much more powerful that any other feeling I could experience. Now, armed with this calm, quiet, yet so powerful feeling that I can finally be who I am meant to be, the face looks brighter — next year, and all the years to come. (M/19/Bi)
Story #2409
When I came out for the second time to my religious mother (separated parents), I was 27 and my boyfriend was waiting for me outside to take a bus. She started crying and blame all to herself for several minutes before I left the apartment. Months later she has become very accepting and asks about my guy at times. (M/28/Gay)
Story #2408
When I came out I was 10/11 and my friends were very supportive because most of them were allies/part of lgbtq. I was always kind of jealous of my brother but I never knew why. When I was 9 I came out to my parents as lesbian. I kept switching through genders and
sexualities and my friends/parents were tired of it. That’s when I started becoming depressed. When I started middle school I was still lesbian and going by they/she/he. I felt confident, until I started questioning my gender when I met this person, Mason. He was ftm and really made a mark on me. Eventually I cut my hair and felt so much better about my gender after I got my binder and I’m happily a boy now! (FtM/11/Aroace/questioning)