When I came out, it was 6th grade and I was always called gay and zesty for the way I acted and sounded and for the things I did because it was middle school after all. I wanted to fit in and be straight but I knew I had lots of attraction to guys and no matter how much I tried, I couldn’t be truly straight. Me and my best friend talked about our opinions on relationships with girls, understanding gay, and even acted and joked about being gay for fun. We stopped this for a couple months because we didn’t actually want to be gay but to my surprise, one day in March, after he was acting weird for the whole day, told me he was bisexual. Hearing him come out to me gave me the courage to realize I was bi too and we are both coming out to the rest of the world now. 💖💜💙 (M/12/Gay/bisexual)
Story #2627
When I first came out I had already created many scenarios of how I could do it. But my mother and father noticed that I had been overwhelmed for some months (I was a sixth grader). I told them I didn’t really understand if I could really label my gender identity because it kept unstable. But they were quite accepting. As for sexuality I only came out at 17. I had hinted to them many times before through jokes and would make it quite obvious for my sister so she could also help me. The Aroace part wasn’t as good as I would like to be but with time they stopped. I had told to my closest friends as they were some type of gay magnet; as a result my friends were usually queer weirdos so it turned out better. (Genderfluid/23/Aroace)
Story #2626
When I came out, my mom didn’t really care, she just wants me to be me. I haven’t come out to my dad or his side of the family yet, because they’re super homophobic and transphobic. As soon as I can live on my own, I will tell him. (Agender/demigirl/13/Bisexual)
Story #2625
When I came out I was in the sixth grade. I told my mom and she was incredibly supportive. I eventually told my friends and they were also very supportive. I haven’t told my dad yet because he is one of those very homophobic macho-type men. I’ll eventually do it though. (M/14/Gay)
Story #2624
When I came out, I wasn’t really accepted at first. My parents weren’t homophobic or anything, but I felt like they didn’t believe me. I had lots of friend groups and I never really felt like they ever really respected me. The first time I really felt seen and accepted, we had just gotten to the second half of the school year and my lunch schedule changed. I saw some kids I thought might be cool to hang out with and asked if I could sit with them. It turned out that one of them was aromantic and the other was genderfluid and omnisexual. At that point I kinda went “me too!”. They were really cool about it and it made me happy that it wasn’t being treated like a phase or something anymore. Since then I’ve had some great support systems, which has really helped me through some stuff. (Genderfluid/pangender/Aegosexual/biromantic)
Story #2623
When I came out my school was very homophobic. I got treated like crap for a long time, and my family refused to say anything about it in my house, but then I found a local GSA and made so many friends who support me unconditionally. Now I have a girlfriend and I am fully out! 😀 (Non-binary/12/Pansexual)
Story #2622
When I came out, I didn’t directly come out to my brother. I had a bisexual flag sticker on my water bottle and he saw it and he said, “I know what that means and if you need anyone to talk to about that stuff I’m here because I didn’t have anyone when I was your age” and we cried for a while and he ended up coming out to my mom as gay later that night so I didn’t feel alone. I love my brother. (F/13)
Story #2621
When I came out to my trans friends it was beautiful. They remember my name and use my right pronouns and fight for me. The name that fits me and feels right, even came from a nickname they came up with. I can only hope my traditional Christian parents are even at least an eighth as supportive. (Genderqueer/14/Lesbian)
Story #2620
When I came out to my sister, she was very supportive. She said she was pansexual, and I was happy for her. I’m really scared to tell my parent though, because they’re Christian and homophobic. So I think me and my sister are going to wait for the right time. (12/Bisexual)
Story #2619
When I came out to my best friend, I was really nervous. I wrote a letter and gave it to her. Then I ignored her for the next thirty minutes. She asked if it was real, and then was really supportive. I haven’t come out to my parents yet but hopefully this summer. (AFAB/12/Genderfluid/demigirl/bisexual)