When I came out it was first to my best friend who has lesbian parents so I knew she’d be accepting. We were walking around her neighbourhood and we sat on a bench and I finally worked up the courage to tell her: “You know how you asked me if I liked anyone but didn’t specify the gender? Well, it was a girl.” She was obviously very accepting and later came out to me. She is helping me come out to even more people and is still my best friend. (F/Gay)
Story #1995
When I came out, I was sitting in church at a Christian youth camp together with a friend. My sexuality had been on my mind for most of the week and at a certain moment I couldn’t hold it in any longer; after the service I asked my friend for a hug and broke down crying. In tears, I told her that I thought I might be into girls and she reacted very positively. I repeated this the next day with a guy I had met on that camp, who then came out to me as well! It was a great relief to finally be able to talk about it, especially with someone who was in the same boat as me. (F/19/Bi)
Story #1990
When I came out I was 27 and in an online long-distance relationship with a man whom I was about to meet for the first time in two years (no video chat back then). Feeling confused and trapped at the thought of an IRL interaction, I first told my counselor (who is lesbian) hoping she would help me figure out what was wrong with me but surprisingly, she mocked me. So, upon the return of a blunderingly exhausting trip of avoiding his advances in every way and once again being able to hide behind the safety of my computer monitor, I ungracefully told him that I was attracted to a whole list of actresses and cowardly asked if he understood what that meant. Obviously he got very angry, told me I was wasting his time, that the last two years had meant nothing, and that I was not trying hard enough to love him. We never spoke again but I hope he found real love and is happy. (F/50/Lesbian)
Story #1989
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)