When I came out to my best friend as bi (2 years ago), I don’t think she understood. It was brief, something like this:
Me- Hey, I think I’m bi.
Her- Ok cool. I think I am too.
I re-came out to her this summer, on our friendiversary. I wrote this long letter about our friendship and randomly in the middle of the letter I was like ” I don’t know if you understood this when I told you last, but I’m…. meaning bisexual.” Then I was like that means I like girls and boys (I have a massive crush on her but I think she’s like super straight so…). She was super cool about it and she still loves me. It feels so good to be myself and be able to say stuff like “There’s my gay side”. My parents caught me reading a sapphic romance novel and they were also super supportive, being in a family that actively supports LGBTQ+ people. It was super awkward and I still haven’t fully come out to them yet but hopefully soon. I guess this shows what love is. (F/13/Bi/queer)
Story #2756
When I came out, I was 12 years old and I was with a straight friend at a sleepover. She started talking about her female friend who had a crush on her, and I obviously looked uncomfortable (I was HEAVILY closeted). She asked if I was queer, and I replied with a very unconvincing ‘No!?’. She saw right through me and told me she wouldn’t tell anyone. I finally admitted I was gay. Then I barely slept the whole night and wished I was back in the closet. I still haven’t come out, and I don’t see my friend all that much. She moved away, and hasn’t told anyone ever. I go to a school where queer kids don’t get beat up, but they get excluded and people are weird to them. I’m planning to come out when I’m 16. (F/14/Lesbian)
Story #2754
When I came out towards the tail end of sixth grade, I had just realized I liked girls after kissing my (now former) best friend at a slumber party a few weeks back under the guise of “we need to practice for our future boyfriends” (cliche, I know) and I was about to take a shower, but then I realized, “Hey, I want to come out to my mom.” I felt really indecisive for, like, a half an hour, though, and just kinda cried in the bathroom for a little bit, but then eventually went downstairs and told her. She was really supportive. Then a few weeks later, I was talking about how I thought Renee Rapp was really pretty… cuz she is, and my mom asked if I had a crush on her. I said yes, and my dad was really confused, and I realized I forgot to tell him, so I just said, “Yeah, dad, I’m bisexual.” He was fine with it, too 🙂 (F/14/Bi)
Story #2749
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)