When I came out I at first told my friends, then a girl in my class said that she was too. I felt really happy that someone other than me knew what pan was. So then my parents found out. I did not tell them. So they did not talk to me for over 2 weeks. Then after the 2nd week was over, my dad told me that this was just a phase. But I showed him a pic of my ex-boyfriend and he said, “Oh wow,” then left it at that. (M/17/Pansexual)
Story #2193
When I came out to my friends, it was in 5th or 6th grade. In 4th grade, a girl came to our school. I thought she was reeaallyy pretty. She had dark brown hair, freckles, and blue green eyes. I will not name her. I told my friends I like her, and nothing really changed. They tried to “set us up”, which failed. It was adorable though. (Demigirl/13/Biromantic/asexual)
Story #2192
When I came out to my sister two months ago, she kind of just shrugged it off at first. She then squealed and hugged me saying that she already knew and kind of guessed it. She’s had my back since then and I’m lucky to have her! She’s 11 now and loves drawing Pride art for me. (F/13/Lesbian)
Story #2191
When I came out I was really scared because I go to a Catholic school. Most my friends were supportive. I told them name (Ethan) and my pronouns (he/him). They respect me and my choices even though I get the occasional “Why can’t you just stay a girl?” Right now I’m attending online group therapy sessions, which really helps. Hopefully today I have the courage and strength to ask my dad for a chest binder (wish me luck🤠) (Male/14/FtM)
Story #2190
When I came out to my friends as pansexual, it was in my groupchat from middle school just after the COVID quarantine began. When I told them, everybody was like, “Oh, you’re gay? Me too!” So now I have a groupchat of the gays. I just recently came out to them as non-binary and they’re really supportive. I’m going to a Catholic high school this year and there’s not a very LGBTQ+ friendly community, so I’m very thankful to have some supportive friends that I can talk to. I still haven’t come out to my parents, but I came out to my sister and my cousins earlier this year (only as pan, not as enby yet). (Non-binary/Pansexual)
Story #2189
When I came out I was scared and felt no one would understand me, but when I finally did my best friend came out too! School came and I told everyone I went by Alex and they/he pronouns. I just recently came out to my stepparent and am very close to coming out to my mom. I have a boyfriend right now who is very supporting. I’m slowly cutting out toxic people and coming out to everyone else. (Demiboy/nonbinary/14/Pansexual)
Story #2188
When I came out to my sister, she actually took it pretty well. She is 10 years old (two younger than me) and I called her into my room. I explained to her what LGBTQ+ was, and then explained that I was Pan. She just blankly stared at me for 10 nerve-racking seconds and then shrugged and told me ok, and promised not to tell anyone. She is the only one I have come out to. Sometimes she gives Gay characters in shows flack. If I hear her say anything disrespectful, I hide ONE of her socks 😀 (F/12/Pansexual, still figuring myself out)
Story #2187
When I came out I was 12 (only 2 weeks ago) and I had been worrying about it for months! My parents were thinking about separating, and my dad had come to tell me and my sister that he was maybe going to move out west. I asked to talk to him alone, so my sister went to bed. I just sat there for 10 minutes, hyperventilating, and then I told him I was bi. I didn’t want to explain what pan was. And he was SUPER supportive! I said that I needed him to stay with us, and not move. I didn’t sleep the whole night. The next day I told my mom. She was like, “Aw honey! That’s great!” And then she went on to tell me about a bisexual love triangle that she had been in with my dad and his friend! So I ended up saving my parents’ marriage with my sexuality! (F/12)
Story #2186
When I came out, me and my close friend were doing art challenge (drawing a character based on yourself). There was a text saying “If you are LGBT+ do your character curly hair”, so I did. When I showed her my drawing, she showed me hers. Her character had a curly hair too! There was a couple seconds of silence and then she asked me, do I want to talk about it. I said I am not really sure who I like, but I’m definitely not straight. She said she knows how I feel, because she feels the same way. I was so happy to know that there are more people like me. That I am not the only one who struggles with my sexuality. (F/14/Questioning)
Story #2185
When I came out I was 13. At first I only came out to my best friend. She’s bisexual and uses she/they pronouns so I knew I’d be okay. We both worked on the school newspaper and we were talking about news stories we wanted to write. I said that I want to write a story about gender identity but that my “closeted anxious brain says no.” She had a mini-freakout and asked if she/they pronouns were correct. I told her they/them and later that day I told her I was polysexual! (NB/13/Polysexual)