When I came out to my father I was basically disowned. He had been using the possibility of me being gay as a vicious point scoring tirade against my mother during a drawn out and violent divorce. On the day they separated and we all moved out and away, I ended up in a heated argument with him, which lead to me saying in effect I was gay. He said I was no son of his and was siding with my mother. I hardly saw him after that as could not cope with the pain of the divorce and maybe because I felt massively rejected. I never had a chance to reconcile or further discuss the issue as he died a few years later. When I tried coming out to my mother I remembered her crying secretly and also during a conversation about my coming out to a friend while I was in the same house. I still don’t know if he fully understands or accepts I’m gay. (M/45/Gay)
Story #1983
When I came out I was about 11, but you know hormones, and my mom didn’t believe me and said it was a phase. Well, I have a girlfriend now (I’m 17) and we kept this in secret but yeah, they know about it. I came out again as lesbian two weeks ago and they said they love me no matter what, and hope that people are going to treat me right. (F/17/Lesbian)
Story #1982
When I came out to a few of my friends they were all super supportive of me, and it turned out that all but one of them were LGBTQ+ too! The one friend is now my girlfriend. She accepts me for who I am and uses my proper pronouns and chosen name. I have bad anxiety so I’m too scared to come out to my parents anytime soon because they’re SUPER religious and biphobic . Although I am not so glad that I came out to my friends because one couldn’t shut their mouth. (F/11/Bi)
Story #1981
When I came out, it was to a group of random strangers my age at a summer camp. I figured, “Well, since I’ll never see any of them again, I might as well say it”. Then, one of the other people there said they were gay, and I was like, that’s cool. Anyway, since then, I’ve been coming out to more and more people. For some strange reason, telling a bunch of random people that I’d never see again made me more comfortable with telling my friends. My parent have yet to find out…. (Genderqueer/13/Pan)
Story #1980
When I came out it was to my mum one night. I hadn’t planned it but she asked if there was anything on my mind and I couldn’t keep it in any longer. I tried to tell her but I couldn’t say the words so I made her guess and I just nodded my head. We talked about it for 40 minutes and she said that she loved and supported me but it would take her a bit of time to be comfortable with it. My dad isn’t the next person I want to tell; hopefully that will go well too. (M/17/Gay)
Story #1979
When I came out I was 12, almost half a year ago… This was to one of my old friends through call since I had moved away a year ago. She was very accepting and then convinced me to come out to my crush at the time, who then tried to convince me to come out my parents but that was really hard. I ended up doing it, then I came out to my whole school. I only got a few blocks on social media but now I am known as the gay kid and that makes me happy. (M/13/Gay)
Story #1978
When I came out I only told one of my kind of friends but she was lesbian, so I thought she would accept me and she did (I’m trans btw). I haven’t really told anyone else. I told a friend and she asked if I like girls and I said not really, then she proceeded to tell me that I wasn’t a boy then. I haven’t told my parents but I will on January 23rd (my birthday) and I’m scared. (Trans[FtM]/15)
Story #1977
When I came out I was 16 and told my best friend and my parents. Back then I came out as bisexual and everyone accepted it. My parents, though, chose to ignore it and we never talked about it again. Now I’m 19 and I identify as genderqueer and pansexual, but I don’t have any intention in telling my parents again, because I know they would “just” accept it, instead of respecting me. So I stick with telling my friends about it and trying not to talk about my gender identity with my family. This way I make sure to surround myself with people who at least try to understand what I’m feeling. (19/Queer)
Story #1976
When I came out I was 35, and I came out first to my husband, with whom I had been for 18 years. I had fallen in love with a woman and my true identity could no longer be kept hidden. He was (he is…) the most wonderful human being. He has accepted me and freed me. It’s not easy to lose a relationship, a love, and a friendship as long and profound as ours, but I am gaining my truth. To all the adults out there in situations similar to mine… it’s never too late. Truth does set us free, even if it brings pain. But pain goes with time, freedom remains. (F/35/Bisexual)
Story #1975
When I first came out, it was to my friend group. They are very supportive (all either ally or LGBTQ+), and now me and my closest friends have a funny greeting for each other! Working on telling family. Hopefully around Christmas!!! (Pan)