When I came out at age 12 I came out to three of my very close friends and they were very supportive of it. I had them guess who I liked and gave them all the initials until they eventually figured out it was a girl. Later one of those friends confessed that she had told another one of my friends and I had my first panic attack. My parents read my texts the next day and sat me down in their room asking me what I thought I was. I was too scared to tell them so they told me I was too young and that I was influenced by TV. Even today only a few of my friends know… (F/15/Demiromantic Bisexual)
Story #1903
When I came out sophomore year of high school, it wasn’t something I planned for, but rather something my parents found out about on their own by way of a love letter. As strong Christians, they were extremely offended, warning me that I would be sent to Hell for my feelings and threatening to send me to conversion camp, have meetings with church leaders and attend therapy to fix my “illness”. Due to everything surrounding this, I ultimately made the choice to throw myself back into a closeted lifestyle for the remainder of my time spent living at home. However, as I still maintain contact with the same girl with which this all began, I plan to move out for college and reunite with her. My only worry now is rehashing the sexuality conversation with my parents and the idea of them disowning me because of who I choose to be with… (F/18/Demiromantic bisexual)
Story #1900
When I came out, I was lucky enough to be supported by almost everyone. One of my best friends and I were figuring out our sexualities at the same time, around our last year of high school, and when she came out to me as bi, it gave me the final push to realise I was bi too. I told my sister and friends first, then my parents a couple of months later, when the new year came around. I got into college already comfortable with my identity, met an amazing group of friends who are mostly LGBTQA+, and finally, three years ago, I posted a long statement to my Facebook profile on Pride Day, which was an indirect way to come out to my distant relatives and acquaintances. I think coming out is a process that never really ends, as you meet new people and get into new environments throughout your life, but my experiences have been very positive so far, and I know the allies I have met along the way will help make it even easier every time I have to do it again in the future. (F/21/Bi demiromantic)
Story #1846
When I came out, it was at first to just one of my friends who was easily supportive, and we made jokes together for a few weeks. Me, her, and some other friends were having a discussion about abortion laws and at some point we started discussing if we would get abortions and the likelihood of needing one. So I turned to my friend, who knew I was ace, and asked her the likelihood of me getting pregnant and needing an abortion. We both started laughing at that joke and I ended up coming out to the whole group and we just talked about LGBT matters for the rest of lunch. (F/14/Demi-romantic/ace)
Story #1830
When I came out to my friend over the phone I said, “I like boys, and girls” to which she replied, “Oh my gosh same” and I did a double take. Coming out to my other friend was hard because first I actually needed to get her attention, then I said, “[Friend], I’m bi” and she said, “Wait, say that again” so I said it again and she was happy and jumping around, then I told her I was genderfluid. At another place I was talking with three or four people and one said, “I don’t think I know anyone who is bi” so I had to say, “Now you have!” I say that I’m bi and genderfluid because it is SO much easier to understand than saying that I might be this or that or both or something. Anyway, continue being your queer/ally self and show that closet who is boss. (NB/genderfluid/androgynous/gender is confusing/13/Biromantic/panromantic/demiromantic/akoiromantic/ace)
Story #1571
When I came out to two of my best friends, I wasn’t even planning on doing it. One of them is a lesbian, and the other one knew about this already, and convinced the first friend to come out to me on a whim. I hugged her and came out as pansexual, and my other friend came out as bi. Still not out to my parents, but out to a few people at my school. (Non-binary/14/Demiromantic Pansexual)
Story #1372
When I came out, I was so scared that my parents would judge me, even though I knew they were (kind of) supporters of the LGBT community. When I finally worked up the courage to tell my mom and dad, they said they loved me the same, which was good, but my mom said something along the lines of “Well, you are only 12, you may be too young to really know…” which was pretty offensive, but she now is completely fine with it (even though I literally came out a month ago xD) I have told almost everyone at school I’m demisexual/demiromantic/gay, and I have lost only 1 close friend 🙂 I’m happy as can be (M/12/Gay)