When I came out at 13 my brother and my cousin were the first people I told. My mom didn’t believe me at first. We were arguing in my room about something really stupid and she said, “Once you get a husband…” and I was so full of that husband and boyfriend thing so I shouted back, “What if I will have a girlfriend?” And she looked at me shockingly and then said, “What do you mean?” So I explained to her that I am bi but she didn’t believe me because she thought it’s just a phase and because it’s “trendy”. In the next 2 years I came out twice more but whenever we start that talk she pretends like she doesn’t care and is kind of supporting but I know that she secretly hopes it’s just a phase. I am pan now but I tell her I am bi cuz it’s easier to explain lol. (F/16/Pansexual)
Story #2385
When I came out I was 13. I texted my friend, telling him that I was gay, and I remember just hoping and praying for a good reaction because I was drowning in internalized homophobia and just wanted someone to tell me it was okay. Now I’m out to a total of 5 people and will be out to my parents soon. (Gender non-conforming woman/15/Gay/lesbian)
Story #2381
When I came out everything crashed. This summer my mom sent me to my grandmother’s house and renovated my room. She found my diary and looked through it, (surprise, surprise) finding out I had a girlfriend. She confronted me about it, and told me she loved me (didn’t say “for who I was”) and says I need to give her my phone password because she won’t snoop again. (F/16/Lesbian)
Story #2376
When I came out I was 12. It wasn’t my choice and my parents didn’t support me. My friends and aunts do, though 🙂 (F/15/Bi)
Story #2375
When I came out, I handed a note to my friend. I only came out as asexual and she still hasn’t said anything. I am nervous. (F/11/AroAce)
Story #2374
When I came out it took several tries. First, it started with me, then my friends, then my family. It took years for me to be able to be where I am and be comfortable with myself. It took many, many long talks, tears, and hard, difficult days and nights for me to be my true self with the people I care for. Now I am living my best life and am happier than I ever was, knowing that I truly love myself for myself. (F/31/Lesbian)
Story #2372
When I came out I was a nervous wreck! I couldn’t sleep as I felt I was ready to tell them. So I got up around 11pm and walked up to them. I came out to my close sister the same day that I came out to my mum and dad. I told dad first. I said due to my past I’m gay. And dad said as long as I was happy, and mum said she already knew!!! So I all told my mum’s mum and I didn’t have a very good reaction out of her. She said I was too young to know, which wasn’t true, but I told her again and she accepted me. (F/15/Lesbian/gay)
Story #2371
When I came out I was on this app where messaging people was available — mind you that the app was 18+ and I was definitely not that age — and on that app I was talking to a girl, yk in a more of a friendship kinda way, knowing she was way older, which is besides the point; I know now it was really dumb now. But my mom found these messages. I panicked and thought, “Well, she’s gonna ask something about me messaging a girl,” so I just went “Well, now is a good time to tell you I’m bisexual.” And well, her reaction was not good, and I had a breakdown, so now I don’t bring it up, but hopefully in the future I’ll be comfortably out to her. (F/Bisexual)
Story #2369
When I came out to everybody I was living with at the time was on National Coming Out Day. We were eating dinner, I just said it was National Coming Out Day and said I was bi. They didn’t really say much, but there were a few friendly jokes thrown around. I think overall they don’t mind, though. At first everybody acted like I just liked boys, but know I think they have come to normalize the fact that I’m bi. Before that day I just made subtle comments that indicated that I might like girls. They also knew that I liked a girl, but didn’t really know I was bi. (F/14/Bisexual)
Story #2366
When I came out to one of my closest friends a few months ago over text, as a queer person herself, she was cool with it. The next day, I came out to my friends in my chorus class, who were also really supportive. My sister knows too and has become really sensitive about sexuality talk, which is really sweet of her. I hope to one day have the courage to tell my parents, but for now, I’m happy the way things are! (F/15)