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 #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 #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)
Story #2001
When I came out, I was 14. I have only come out to like two people as of right now, but my best friend is gay and I have known about myself being bisexual for a long time, I just was too scared to come out. I texted my friend and I basically just told him that I’m bisexual and I haven’t told anyone and I’m scared to tell anyone because I’m super afraid of being bullied and also, my grandpa is a Baptist church pastor and Baptists don’t really agree with that kind of stuff. He was so supportive; he said, “I’m so sorry, honey, I really don’t know what to say. Just know that I love you anyway and if you ever need to talk abt it let me know. It is very hard to come out, don’t try to come out unless you’re sure.” I started crying and since then, I’ve made a lot more friends in the LGBTQ+ group. I manage soccer and he manages with me, the coach is lesbian, and two of the other managers are also bisexual, so I feel like I have a lot of support coming from the people who know. I just don’t feel like I can come out to my parents. (F/15/Bisexual)
Story #2000
When I came out this month I cried a lot. My anxiety was begging me to do something about my entire life, because I accumulated a lot of issues and was having a lot of crisis and panic attacks through the year (of course realising I’m trans last year and having to deal with dysphoria wasn’t being helpful). I sat down and cried it all out with the only person I ever trusted with my life, my ex-boyfriend. He said he was fine with it (and even said he never stopped loving me!). He came out as pansexual and we both agreed on being best friends and tell everything to each other. I even told him that when I finally start taking T shots and officially change my name we can try something again, haha! I am still waiting to come out to my mom and my sister. I know they will accept at some point, but as I live in a country that’s specially dangerous to LGBTQ+ people, I’ll wait a bit more. Wish me luck! (Male [FTM]/16/Bisexual)
Story #1997
When I came out I was in 8th or 9th grade and I had told my family that I was gay, and then I finally figured out that I was bisexual one or two years later. I never thought that I would be bisexual because I was never taught about being gay and bisexual at home or at school. (Non-binary/18/Bisexual)
Story #1995
When I came out, I was sitting in church at a Christian youth camp together with a friend. My sexuality had been on my mind for most of the week and at a certain moment I couldn’t hold it in any longer; after the service I asked my friend for a hug and broke down crying. In tears, I told her that I thought I might be into girls and she reacted very positively. I repeated this the next day with a guy I had met on that camp, who then came out to me as well! It was a great relief to finally be able to talk about it, especially with someone who was in the same boat as me. (F/19/Bi)
Story #1992
When I came out it was at pride and I was scared sh*tless. I first came out to my best friend over text and she was extremely supportive. I have lots of other LGBTQ+ friends and when I told them to refer to me as they/them they were all supportive. I have yet to come out to my family and other friends, and I am scared sh*tless to do so. I just hope that they have the same response as my friends. I don’t think my parents know/believe in being NB so I hope that I can stay sane as they refer to me as she/her for the time being. (Non-binary/14/Bisexual)
Story #1989
When I came out I told many of my friends. They either support me or don’t care; most support me though. I plan in making a LGBTQ club in my school soon, to show people there is a safe place to come for LGBTQ people. I bought two LGBTQ+ flags, one of LGBTQ and one bisexual one. I had the LGBTQ one hanging in the center of my room and I accidentally left my door open; my mom actually saw it and asked about it, if I knew what it meant and if I was any of those, and I explained I was bisexual and that I was terrified to tell cause I thought she wouldn’t accept me and she accepted me. I started to break into tears hearing she was OK with it. I’m bringing my bisexual flag to my dad and seeing what happens after that. (F/13/Bisexual)