When I came out, it was to my mom and probably one of the biggest mistakes I ever made. I was in seventh grade when I came out to her about being gender fluid. She instantly resorted to yelling, and telling my that it was all for attention and that gender fluidity is not a real thing. The worst part is that a few hours after that, around 1 in the morning I got a call from my best friend’s parents telling me that he had taken his own life, and I can’t help but feel that I am somehow the reason that he did what he did. She also forced me to get my hair cut really short the next day. (I had been growing it long so I could look more female.) Because of her I have been to therapy to get me, as she calls it, “fixed,” 11 times. I have developed depression and anxiety from that experience. I have tried to take my life 4 times now. I have become self abusive and don’t plan to be alive for high school graduation. I just hope that no one has to go through anything like I did. (Fluid/14/Demi pan romantic)
Story #2040
When I came out I first told my best friend that I trust the most that I’m bi and she took it so damn well; I was so happy. I told her that over a text, so the next day at school she just came to me and hugged me. My friends had been asking about my crush but I wasn’t ready to tell yet. It took a while and I told my crush that I was bi, and suddenly she just responded that she was bi too, so we came out to each other. A few days later I told her that I had feelings for her and she actually had some feelings for me too. It took a while and then I finally told my other best friend that I was bi and she said it was okay and nothing will change. For now I don’t really care who knows and who doesn’t. It doesn’t matter because my loved ones know so I don’t care about others’ opinions. (F/15/Bi)
Story #2039
When I came out I was 12. I didn’t really know what to think at the time; all I knew was that it was my first time in a locker room filled with other CUTE girls. I stood there looking at them but when they seen me looking I would turn away shyly; I would even pretend to talk to a friend just to walk around and look. Eventually someone realized I was looking at them and called me out on it, which of course drew a lot of attention to us; she wasn’t lying, though, because at the time I had a HUGE CRUSH on her. Of course I turned red, then everyone started laughing and calling me mean names as they are pushing my head into toilets and throwing me into lockers. Soon I received notes like “kill yourself” and things like that and I’m not gonna lie, I for real thought about it. I would try to drown myself in the bathtub but couldn’t muster up the courage. Soon my parents realized something was wrong, which of course I lied and said just a bad day because I know my parents won’t accept me and will try to fix me. To this day I will never tell my very religious parents and I continue to get bullied at school. (F/13/Gay?)
Story #2038
When I came out I was in 4th grade and my friends were grossed out. I have come out to my sister and now I just have to come out to my parents. (F/11/Lesbian)
Story #2037
When I came out, I texted my (at the time) best friend and told her I was bi. She jokingly texted back, “lets date lol,” then “r u actually tho” and I told her I was. When I asked if she actually wanted to date, she said she thought I was super cute and amazing, but she wasn’t quite ready for that and we could still be friends. But one night, I went to stay at her house and had to leave early and she just stopped responding to my texts and calls. I don’t know what to do or how to get her to like me again. (F/Bi)
Story #2036
When I came out in April I decided to tell one of my friends, who was already out as lesbian. I had a huge crush on her, and had a panic attack when I told her. She asked who I liked, and since I’m a terrible liar I said it was her. She had a girlfriend (that I didn’t know about) so I spent the rest of the night crying, but now me and my girlfriend have been together for 2 months. Everything works out in the end! (16/Lesbian)
Story #2035
When I came out, I first came out to my friends. I was in 8th grade but I had really started questioning when I was in 7th grade. When I told my friends they were all cool with it because most of my friends are LGBT. I just recently came out to my mom and her fiancé. It was the scariest thing ever; my mom’s fiancé claimed he already knew. My mom just asked a lot of questions and I was fine with that. I have a grandfather that I am really close with but I don’t think I will ever come out to him because he is very homophobic and is very out about it. (F/13/Lesbian)
Story #2034
When I came out I was terrified. I asked my best friend to go to breakfast, and planned to tell her then. Throughout he meal, I sat there shaking and sweating on the verge of a panic attack at the thought of telling her this secret I had kept hidden for so long. I put it off until we were outside and about to leave, but I told her and she told me nothing changed. Due to her Christianity, I thought she might not accept me, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. Telling her lifted a weight off my shoulders and helped in reducing my panic attacks. (F/16/Lesbian)
Story #2033
When I came out it was just yesterday. I had been coming to terms with my sexuality for quite some time and I finally could confidently look in the mirror and say, “That girl is gay.” I had been trying to tell so many of my friends for so long and then I remembered a while ago one of my friends had said one quick casual sentence about not knowing her sexuality, so me and her (she is also my crush) were at theatre practice and I told her, “I have something to tell you” and it took me so long to just spit it out, telling her, “I don’t know if it’s a phase or what but I know what I’m feeling right now, and that feeling is gay.” She immediately hugged me, said that it would be okay, then she said that she thinks she might be bi and soon we were both crying our eyes out. (F/13/Lesbian/queer)
Story #2032
When I came out to my brother it was the most awkward thing. We’ve never been close and so this was a conversation I had put off for years. In the end he took it really well, but we both had very little to say. My mom later told me that he called her soon after to confess to her how bad he now felt for all the gay jokes he’d made over the years. He would never tell me that, but it’s good to know he cares. (M/26/Gay)