When I came out I was extremely scared. I noticed that I started having attraction towards females and yet I still liked males. I was extremely confused and I questioned my sexuality for over two years. One day I was alone in my room thinking and I finally realized that I was bisexual and I broke down crying. My close friend, who had come out long before I had, offered me emotional support and was able to help me see that my sexuality wasn’t something to be ashamed of but something beautiful to embrace. I came out to my friends and for the most part, they were pretty accepting, and some said, “We kind of knew already but we are glad you trusted us with this.” I still haven’t come out to my parents, but I’m slowly starting to build up the courage and hope to tell them soon. (F/17/Bisexual)
Story #1851
When I came out to my sister it was a little weird situation, because my sister made a joke about a girl from our soccer club, who is also a good friend of hers, and our coach. She said, “On this picture it looks as if they were a couple, but for real nobody knows if she falls for boys or girls, or do you know?” That was the moment where I first didn’t know what to say, because I did know it — after all, she’s been my girlfriend for over 3 months. At first I wanted to lie to her but then I just told her, “As far as I know and hope she is a lesbian and I am also very sure about that, ’cause we are a couple already for over 3 months.” After that she was shocked at first, but not in a negative way and after a few seconds she came over and hugged me and told me that she was happy for me and also her. (F/20/Lesbian)
Story #1850
When I came out it was before a party, and there was much anticipation of a slow dance. My mom asked me whom my crush was, and I very nervously told her it was a girl on my swim team. She paused for a moment and then told me that she too had once dated girls. My mom has since been super supportive. Although I have yet to come out to the rest of my family, a weight has been lifted off my shoulders, and I don’t really feel the need to. (F/12/Gay)
Story #1849
When I came out it was when I was in the Army and it was shortly before Obama allowed trans people to serve openly. My retention NCO was trying to keep me from ETSing and was trying to get me to sign an extension. He asked me what it would take for me to extend my service and I told him I was trans. It apparently didn’t click in his head what I meant because he said I was going to go to school to be a combat engineer and to not worry about me being a transportation operator. After going back and forth several times that I am trans he finally realized what I saying by just saying, “Ooh” in a very embarrassed way. (Transfemale/28/Transgender MtF)
Story #1839
When I came out I didn’t know what to expect. I have had feelings for girls since the fourth grade… but I’ve known I had always liked guys too. I wanted to come out to my cousin first because they are in lgbtq+ community. They said they will support me if I ever needed it. They promised they wouldn’t tell anyone because I was afraid. I still have not come out to my guardians because I am scared to say my sexuality. (F/13/Bisexual)
Story #1846
When I came out, it was at first to just one of my friends who was easily supportive, and we made jokes together for a few weeks. Me, her, and some other friends were having a discussion about abortion laws and at some point we started discussing if we would get abortions and the likelihood of needing one. So I turned to my friend, who knew I was ace, and asked her the likelihood of me getting pregnant and needing an abortion. We both started laughing at that joke and I ended up coming out to the whole group and we just talked about LGBT matters for the rest of lunch. (F/14/Demi-romantic/ace)
Story #1837
When I came out I started by telling my friend over Instagram, because she did a poll on her story asking who was LGBT. I said yes and then I told her not to tell anybody ’cause I was too scared. About 3 months later I told my other friend, because I was feeling really upset and she could tell something was wrong. We talked about it for about an hour. She helped me to have the courage to come out to my parents, which I finally did about 2 weeks later. I wrote a letter to them but I ended up just telling them. Then I told all of my close friends through an Instagram post. Everyone was really supportive but I still feel afraid of talking about it. I don’t have any queer friends and I just feel like a freak every time I talk about it. (F/22/Bi)
Story #1845
When I came out I was fifteen. I had just found out that I was bi. I went to school at that time and I told myself I wouldn’t tell anyone, not even my friends, because I was scared that they wouldn’t know how to act around me. One night, I went to a party and got so drunk that I screamed on the top of my lungs that I was bi and then I fell on the ground and started sobbing. People were super nice. They gave me speeches on how I should accept myself and carried me to my friend’s car so she could drive me home. (F/Bisexual)
Story #1835
When I came out my husband almost killed himself. Everyone has accused me of being a lesbian my whole life and I hated it! I always knew who I was, but I never accepted myself. I was emotionally/mentally killing myself, but 3 kids, 1 marriage, & a chow chow later I’m a happier person. 🌈 Bring it on LIFE🤜🏻 (F/27/Lesbian/bisexual?)
Story #1833
When I came out, it was first to my sister, and then later to my close friend group (including a neutral friend who just happened to be there at that moment). Today, a few months later, my sister convinced me to come out to my parents with a card that she and I made. It had a heart with the bisexual flag in it, and underneath it, it said, “Hi, I’m bisexual. Gotta go, so bi.” I never knew my coming out would include a pun. My parents were very supportive and I think my father was proud of our using a pun. (F/Bisexual)