When I came out to my best friend, who is straight, via text I was unsure whether he would accept me or not. He was going through a rough time and I always tried to be there for him (as good friends should); during some of our conversations he assured me that if I ever had something that I would want to talk about I could just reach out. That night, we had been texting for a long time already. I wrote down all my thoughts on my notes app, took the chance, and decided to send it to him. I remember shaking as my phone vibrated but after reading his response I felt a strong sensation of relief: he accepted me. If you had asked me half a year earlier I never would have believed that I would have gotten the courage to tell him or anybody for that matter. I’m thankful for having a friend like him. (M/17/Bisexual)
Story #2514
When I came out to my (homophobic) parents I did it with a crossword puzzle. I left it for them before I went to school, so they would do it when I wasn’t around. Of course they waited until I was home to solve it. They told me they still love me. They said, ‘Everyone has challenges in this life, this is yours,’ and my mom was like, ‘Are you sure about this? I mean sometimes these things…’ We all know she was about to say, sometimes these things go away. (F/14/Bisexual)
Story #2508
When I came out, it was on my Snapchat story: I wrote “Happy Pride Month” and drew a pride flag. I got a lot of people in the following week asking if I was in the Community. One person even told me they were “glad I was experimenting”. It was the first time I encountered biphobia and it stung (I didn’t even realize how much it affected me until later that night). I call myself gay a lot, and so people are constantly saying “But aren’t you bi?” or “But that’s for guys. You’re lesbian.” It’s annoying, but unfortunately, something I just have to deal with in straight spaces, which is why I’ve joined my school’s GSA and a queer discord server. (F/14/Bisexual)
Story #2507
When I came out all of my friends were either also part of the community or very supportive. My mom is pretty supportive, but I’m not sure my dad believes me. He hasn’t explicitly said it but I can tell he thinks it’s ‘just a phase’ and I’ll realize I’m actually straight and I don’t actually know myself. (Bisexual)
Story #2495
When I came out to my friends at a sleepover they were all super weird. I know they accepted me but I hate how awkward it was. It’s not fair. We are different but that shouldn’t mean we have to feel like outsiders. Like what if we didn’t have to even think about being accepted or loved? What if we could just be us and it was normal?? And people didn’t look at us weird?? I really hope for the people that come after us that they don’t have to deal with anything this community does every day. (F/13/Bi)
Story #2492
When I came out to my boyfriend and my friends, I told my friend on the way back from the ren fair. I told him I am a man and my preferred name and he was happy for me!! :DDDD and Then I told my boyfriend over text that I am a man and he was fine with it cause he’s pansexual. I recently got a binder and I am going to wait to tell my parents :DD (FtM/14/Bisexual)
Story #2486
When I came out, it was a weight lifted off my shoulder and I finally felt liberated. The last couple of years have been a journey of understanding myself and what type of support I want to see for myself in the long term. I have recently begun to acknowledge and come to terms with the fact that I identify my sexuality as fluid in terms of my attractions and interests. I have recently come out to myself as bi and fluid in the last couple of months. I am still learning and finding ways to see what community looks like for me as I re-come out to those close to my friend circle. I am not out with everyone yet as I still understand what this means for me. As I unpack some of the internalized biphobia that I had harbored due to denying part of myself, it has allowed me to explore different parts of my identity. I am just growing into myself and recognizing the importance of unconditional love and healing from past wounds. (M/27/Bisexual/fluid)
Story #2475
When I came out I was looking with my mom at pride flags on the internet when I found a picture with a bisexual flag on it and I said, “That’s my flag.” And then she just said, “Okay, I never knew.” And then we just continued with looking at the flags. I was quite comfortable in that moment because my mom has always been queer positive. She is cis-hetero. I haven’t come out yet to my dad yet. I have come out to one of my pansexual and bigender friend that I have a crush on. She’s very nice. (F/10/Bisexual)
Story #2456
When I came out my friends and I were walking through the halls of our school. I already knew they were both bisexual so I knew I could trust them. They were so supportive about it. I go to church and I have friends at my school that go to the same church so I didn’t want to tell them. One day I was talking with my friends (my church friends were there) and someone brought up the topic about being part of the LGBTQ+ community. One of my friends asked me, “Aren’t you bi?” I panicked because my church friends were there. I said, “Well yeah, but I don’t want my parents to find out.” They were all super supportive about it and I think i might tell my parents. (F/12/Bisexual)
Story #2453
When I came out I didn’t want to. My trusted friend told everyone I was bisexual. I got so mad at her. When I confronted her about it, she said, “I swear on god I didn’t do it.” Then today during class she said, “I’m sorry I put the email out there. I shouldn’t have believed that rumor about you liking my crush” and she wants to be my friend again but I said no. She violated my trust and because of her someone told me I should die. But all of my friends support me.