When I came out to my mom I was maybe 15 or 16, and I just walked into her room one night and told her, “Mom, I have something very important to tell you. I’m never going to have kids. I’m never going to have sex, because I’m ace.” And obviously she was like, “You’re too young to know, you’ve never dated anyone before, it’s just a phase, you’ll find that special someone later in life, you don’t have to worry about it right now,” and all that. And I was just crying as I tried to explain to her that it wasn’t a phase and that I had been distressed for some time, but that I was into guys, just I couldn’t emotionally comprehend sexual attraction the way everyone else did. Like, ya it made sense logically, but other than finding people aesthetically pleasing, I just wasn’t ever *attracted* to anyone. She needed some time to think about it, but she’s pretty accepting now. My high school friends honestly knew before I did; they’d always ask me, “Oh, you’re ace, right?” even while I was questioning, so coming out to them was really easy. (F/19/Heteroromantic asexual)
Story #2256
When I came out to my friend she supported me :)) I know I should probably write more, but I love my friend a lot and I’m just glad she supports me (Genderqueer/agender/15/Aroace biromantic)
Story #2252
When I came out one of my parents didn’t really act like I said anything and the other was very adamant that I would change my mind. The conversation lasted around an hour and for every reason I gave the one parent had an opposite view. Didn’t go well, but my friends are accepting. 🖤💜 (F/20/Asexual heteroromantic)
Story #2249
When I came out my dad and stepmom were super accepting, but my dad didn’t quite understand what being bigender is. But I was scared to tell my mom for months, and then I did and she said she just wants me to be happy and she bought me a pride flag! The majority of my friends are LGBTQ+ so I just casually told them and they were all accepting. I haven’t told my parents I’m asexual yet, because I think they’ll say I’m too young to know or that I haven’t even slept with anyone yet so how would I know. (Bigender [she/they]/11/Lesbian/asexual)
Story #2247
When I came out as asexual I was 12, and all my friends were bi/gay/lesbian so I knew it would be fine. So I went up to my best friend (who’s gay) and said, “I’m asexual.” She acted really shocked and said being asexual was a medical illness and you had to be “diagnosed” at a hospital. Then a year or so later I came out as non-binary and my friends still didn’t believe me. However, I met a new group consisting of enbys, aces and gays and now we’re all besties! (NB/14/Asexual/demiromantic/biromantic)
Story #2238
When I came out to my best friend as aroace, she just shrugged and asked me a few questions to understand it better, but otherwise didn’t make it such a big deal. She’s awesome, by the way. On the other hand, when I came out to my parents, they said that it was “just a phase” and that I shouldn’t say that until I know for sure because I’ll find the right person someday, so that made me angry. Otherwise though, my coming-out experience was good. (F/14/Aro/ace)
Story #2219
When I came out I texted my friend right before I went to bed (probably not the best idea). I then woke up to the best text from her saying she’d try her best to get my pronouns and new name right but it would just take some time to get used to. I was so happy and almost cried because I was scared I’d lose my best friend ever. (Non-binary/11/Asexual/bisexual)
Story #2218
When I came out, I was in 5th grade and I only told my two best friends that I was bisexual. We then figured out that one of my friends is trans and we helped each other. Fast forward a year and you get a gender fluid, lesbian, asexual. My friends will be understanding when I tell them this. But I don’t want to tell my mom cause her sad/sympathetic face creeps me out. I don’t want her to feel the need to comfort me. (Genderfluid/13/Lesbian/asexual)
Story #2207
When I came out to my sister as Nonbinary, she accepted me right away and asked me for my pronouns. I told her the pronouns were they/them. She told me she could help me with the money for bottom surgery, and I’ve been thankful ever since! (Nonbinary/demiboy/12/Bisexual/pansexual/asexual)
Story #2197
When I came out to my parents, I didn’t come out, I was forced out. My mum and I don’t have the best relationship, so we don’t talk very much. Because of this my mum doesn’t trust me all that much. Well, one day my mum decided that I have to be hiding something so took my phone and went through it, reading EVERYTHING. She found out about my girlfriend and my identity. The first thing she did was kick me out, then, after about an hour, she let me back in. We talked — meaning she yelled at me — for about two hours and that was that. It was rarely mentioned again apart from the occasional ‘well-meaning’ homophobic comment. (Non-binary/16/Lesbian asexual)