When I came out it was 2007 and I was 27 years old, though I’d known I was gay since I was about 12. I came out to my best (girl) friend first… she was amazing… Next was my childhood buddy (more like a brother). He was great to me, but slightly freaked out. Then I told my mom, who I always thought would be my “champion”, and she freaked out and called my dad… and my father, the supreme jock, the masculine supreme, accepted me straight up for who I was and told me to stop worrying about being myself!!! So… don’t hold back for people you think may be “disappointed”, do you… the lovers will always love! (M/39/Gay)
Story #2013
When I came out, I wrote a letter with my parents explaining that I wasn’t straight because I was too scared to do it in person. They reacted by writing me a letter back and putting it on my bed. It said that they loved and supported me, and while reading it burst into tears of relief. (F/13)
Story #2012
When I came out to my mom it was two weeks before Christmas. I told her I was pansexual and she asked me what that meant. After I told her what it meant she told me that she loves me no matter what and as long as I was happy she would be okay with it. I told my brother before anyone else; he told me that he didn’t care as long as I was happy he was okay with it. He also told me that I would still be his sister no matter who I loved. I told my sister after my mom; she said she always that she knew and that she still loved me the same. I haven’t told my dad though; one day I will tell him and the rest of my family that I’m pansexual but that’s nowhere near soon. (F/13/Pansexual)
Story #2011
When I first “came out” to my gay guy friend, he tried to convince me that I should come out to my mom. I told him I wanted to but I was really scared to do so. My parents are divorced so I don’t care if my dad knows. I chickened out on the idea of coming out to my mom and two years later she found out on her own. I’m bisexual, and my mom found out when I was 13, last year. She thinks it’s a phase but she still loves me. Then I came out with my best friend and she was super supportive and really awesome about it. I’m considering coming out to the world in 2020, so wish me luck! (F/14/Bisexual)
Story #2010
When I came out, it was first to my best friends at my lunch table. They were very supportive, as many of them were members of the LGBTQ+ community. After that, I started putting gay (you know: rainbow hearts, love is love pins, the like) on my backpack. I still hadn’t come out to my parents so they were a little surprised to see those pins on my bag. One day I walked in and my parents said they wanted to talk. I had been working up the courage to talk to them and tell them but it was right then I knew it was time to. I told them that I had realized that I liked both boys and girls and I hoped that they could accept me as I was. That when my mom told me that she was actually bisexual as well and that before she had met my dad, she went out with several women in college. That helped me know that I could trust my mom and my dad with anything I was feeling, about anyone, and I count them as not just my parents, but two of my best friends. (M/16/Bi)
Story #2009
When I came out, it was to my friends. I was super nervous so instead of saying that I was trans I just kind of said, “By the way, I’m a guy.” Everyone was super supportive and all of them are LGBT+. I also came out to my dance teacher and my history teacher, both of whom are very supportive. I haven’t come out to my transphobic parents yet, but I plan to come out on New Year’s as my resolution. I’m pretty nervous but also excited. (M/13/FtM/gay/panromantic)
Story #2008
When I came out, I was on a bus back from a trip with cadets, and I was sitting with one of my friends, and I just brought it up. I told her that I was bisexual, and she was very accepting. I had originally planned to come out as pansexual, but very few people in my community understand the difference between pan and bi, so I identify as bi to most people, but there are a few other LGBTQ+ people who do know that I’m actually pan. I do plan on explaining that I’m actually pansexual one day, but right now I just don’t have the confidence to do it. (F/15/Pansexual)
Story #2007
When I came out I was at my camp. Everyone there was super-accepting, and they all used my pronouns. Several other kids and some of the staff were trans as well. I decided to come out to my mom, but I’m uncomfortable with talking to her so I wrote her a note and hid it in her bag. She read it while at work and after camp picked me up to talk about it. Once again, I didn’t want to talk. Since then she hasn’t said anything about it or used my pronouns, which hurts, but I can tell she’s trying. She let me cut my hair and bought me more masculine-looking clothes. I’m thinking about coming out to my Martial Arts group. (Genderqueer/13/Pansexual)
Story #2006
When I came out as bi to my friends they were all so happy for me and showered me with support and love. Later on I realized I was actually gay. I really wanted to tell my parents but I was so scared how they would react; one day it became too much to hold in so a wrote them a note explaining to them that I was gay. The next day my parents told me they loved me and supported me no matter what. I felt so relieved after. (M/16/Gay)
Story #2005
When I came out, it was to a friend who is bisexual. We were speaking about crushes and I told her I like somebody in our choir class. Our choir class is all girls so she asked if I was bi. I said yes and she was like, “I knew it, my gaydar was on high alert”. Now I have to come out to my other friends and my mom. I am NOT looking forward to telling my mom (she scares me and has already threatened to disown for other reasons). (F/16/Bisexual)