When I came out, my mom found love letters beneath my bed and inside of a heart-shaped box. They were from a woman and she confronted me. She kicked me out and the woman picked me up the next day and I left. I like to think I made it easier for my little brother. She learned to accept him, and later me. I wish I had more space to tell my story, but that’s the gist. (F/45/Pan)
Story #2746
When I came out to my parents this year, I was scared that they would not love me anymore. I have known that I was not interested in guys. I wanted to be free and my true self. My mom said that she knew. All my friends I told were happy for me and said I thought you were. Some said they knew. They said that they wish I came out sooner. I was not sure what I wanted. I wanted people to love me for me. (F/39/Lesbian)
Story #2745
When I came out in like 5th grade, I was reading The Sun and the Star, and I asked my mom what “bisexual” meant, and she said it meant you like both boys and girls. I said, “That sounds like me.” (I’ve always known I like girls, and kinda thought it was normal?) And since then, I’ve realized queer/sapphic most align with my orientation (subject to change). (F/questioning/13/Queer/sapphic)
Story #2744
When I came out to my parents, I was 13 and working on a project with my friend (who is also queer) that was about the LGBTQ+ community. Her mom was asking questions about it, and she was freaking out because like the wonderful person she is, she didn’t want to out me to her mom if I wasn’t ready, so she was frantically calling me. When I called her back, I was in the car with my mom and I decided to explain to her after I hung up what the call was about, and she was cool with it, if not a little surprised. That night, we went out to ice cream and I just walked up to my dad in the crowded shop and said, “Hey dad, I’m gay.” With my friends, it was really easy to come out because most of them are queer or allies and they are really good at accepting me for who I am. (F/Lesbian)
Story #2743
When I came out to my mom today, I had been planning it out for a long time, and last night I wrote a letter telling my mom how I feel, how long, etc. It was about midnight, and I went and slipped the note under her door. I could barely sleep after that. I fell asleep around 2 am, and woke up at 7 am. When I woke up, I layed in bed for about an hour, nervous about what to do. It might sound a bit silly, but after a while I got so nervous about it that I went and sat in my closet for 20 minutes and thought about it. I knew that my mom would be supportive, but I was still scared. I finally went and sat on the couch in our living room, and a little bit later my mom came into the living room and told me she loved me and didn’t care who I loved. It was a short conversation, but it was nice. A couple hours later, I sat down next to her and asked her if she had any questions, and we talked about my experience for a while. No regrets. (F/14/Bi/lesbian)
Story #2734
When I came out to my mom I first tried to come out over a phone call. I was so scared, all I could say to her was that I had been wearing girls clothes. I felt ashamed and embarrassed as I hung up and went to work. Before I clocked in I texted her the full truth and that I was sorry for lying to her, that I wanted to be her daughter. Now my mother, to her great shame, had fallen asleep after our call that morning. She left that text unopened for 3 hours of blind panic at work. She did accept me. She later had some fumbles with our relationship but I am very proud of how she handled my coming out (F/28/Trans feminine)
Story #2733
When I came out I was around late twelve/early 13. I basically had a hunch in fifth grade but I was so confused. I was attracted to a bunch of random girls and didn’t have a full crush until 7th grade which is when I told my friends. I’ve only told two people irl but they’re accepting of it. Coming out for real is honestly super scary because what if all the girls in my grade are disgusted with me (I go to a small school). And idk some of my friends also gay jokes and I don’t want anyone to see me differently. (F/14/Lesbian)
Story #2731
When I came out I had just turned 18. My best friend kept making homophobic remarks and I just decided I had had enough, so I painted a pride flag and hung it on the door of my room. My friend then came for a visit and saw it, then she asked me if I was queer. I came out as a lesbian and surprisingly, she has been really supportive — I don’t think I’ve heard a single negative remark from her since then. It made me believe that even homophobes can change, because the people who truly care about us won’t mind who we are and who we love. (F/19/Lesbian and demisexual)
Story #2729
When I came out it was a mess. I didn’t know who I was or who I loved. It was quite hard. I struggled finding me throughout primary school, but as soon as I went to high school it got better. I didn’t have an epiphany moment (which I wanted) but I learnt to love, love my friends, romantically other people and me. This part was quite difficult, I didn’t love me, but it’s been a year since then and now I do. I don’t know what I’m doing but I think I’m now ok with that. My love life is still certainly a mess but I can sleep at night not having any regrets. (F/13)
Story #2728
When I came out I was not at all ready for it, I came out to my family three weeks ago after my mom found a bisexual flag in my room. My whole family is LDS and weren’t unsupportive but they aren’t really supportive either. Even though I wasn’t ready to let the world see me, now that my family knows I feel so much freer and am glad it happened. I’ve come out to a lot of my friends at school and have even considered putting a Bi pin on my backpack. (F/15/Bisexual)