When I came out I told many of my friends. They either support me or don’t care; most support me though. I plan in making a LGBTQ club in my school soon, to show people there is a safe place to come for LGBTQ people. I bought two LGBTQ+ flags, one of LGBTQ and one bisexual one. I had the LGBTQ one hanging in the center of my room and I accidentally left my door open; my mom actually saw it and asked about it, if I knew what it meant and if I was any of those, and I explained I was bisexual and that I was terrified to tell cause I thought she wouldn’t accept me and she accepted me. I started to break into tears hearing she was OK with it. I’m bringing my bisexual flag to my dad and seeing what happens after that. (F/13/Bisexual)
Story #1988
When I came out I was 13 years old. I only came out to one person, but it was one of the most terrifying things I’ve ever done. I texted my friend, who is Bi, and just kind of said “So I’m Bi…” After that I threw my phone on the bed and didn’t check my messages for at least 10 minutes. When I did check it all she had said was “Cool! :)” Even though it was such a small response, it made me so happy to finally be out to someone and have them accept me. (F/14/Bisexual)
Story #1985
When I came out it was a total accident. I had already come out to my closest friends but my classmates didn’t know. I was sitting in class and the boy in front of me used gay as an insult. I was p*ssed so I said, “Don’t say that” and he turned around and said “What, are you gay?” And I said, “Well, yes, I am!” That shut him up. And that’s how I came out to my entire class. (F/15/Bisexual/pansexual)
Story #1983
When I came out I was about 11, but you know hormones, and my mom didn’t believe me and said it was a phase. Well, I have a girlfriend now (I’m 17) and we kept this in secret but yeah, they know about it. I came out again as lesbian two weeks ago and they said they love me no matter what, and hope that people are going to treat me right. (F/17/Lesbian)
Story #1982
When I came out to a few of my friends they were all super supportive of me, and it turned out that all but one of them were LGBTQ+ too! The one friend is now my girlfriend. She accepts me for who I am and uses my proper pronouns and chosen name. I have bad anxiety so I’m too scared to come out to my parents anytime soon because they’re SUPER religious and biphobic . Although I am not so glad that I came out to my friends because one couldn’t shut their mouth. (F/11/Bi)
Story #1976
When I came out I was 35, and I came out first to my husband, with whom I had been for 18 years. I had fallen in love with a woman and my true identity could no longer be kept hidden. He was (he is…) the most wonderful human being. He has accepted me and freed me. It’s not easy to lose a relationship, a love, and a friendship as long and profound as ours, but I am gaining my truth. To all the adults out there in situations similar to mine… it’s never too late. Truth does set us free, even if it brings pain. But pain goes with time, freedom remains. (F/35/Bisexual)
Story #1974
When I came out I started by coming out to my best friend. It was over messages and I was terrified for the next message. To my surprise she said she already suspected and still supported me no matter what. Over time I’ve come out to more and more of my friends with most of them supporting me. I just hope the same will happen with my parents. (F/14/Bisexual/pansexual)
Story #1972
When I came out it was to my mom. We were sitting in the car and I was thinking of just telling my mom I was lesbian until my best friend texted me and said if I came out that she would have my back one thousand percent so I said f**ck it and I told my mom. I was sooooo scared though although I felt a relief of weight and pressure off my shoulders of holding that in for months. After I told her she just sat there in silence and just asked when and why I felt this way, and I told her I knew I was lesbian around the age of 13 and I found out when I was playing the game bottle spin at a party and I had to kiss a girl although I never was really that in to boys, nor was I boy crazy like my other friends were. I still have to come out to my dad and the rest of my family and friends although I will eventually. (F/Lesbian)
Story #1971
When I came out to my aunt, it was after dinner at Thanksgiving. I followed her out to her car and I told her, “I need to tell you something.” She said, “Ok, what is it?” I said that I was gay, but she didn’t hear me, so she asked me to repeat it. After that I said, “I’m gay!” then burst into tears. She told me that she accepted me and still saw me as family, which I was glad to hear. That Christmas, she gave me a hairband lollipop that was rainbow colored. I am so thankful to have a family member who accepts me for who I am after my parents rejected my identity. (F/15/Lesbian)
Story #1970
When I came out my friends were grilling me about who I had a crush on. One of my friends asked if they were male and I said no. They didn’t really care and I’m glad I can talk about my crush around them now. (F/14/Bi)