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)
Story #1826
When I came out, it was yesterday. I FaceTime my best guy friend most nights, and a few nights ago, we were playing Truth or Dare over the phone. He asked which of my crushes had starred in my last dream, and I told him that he didn’t know them, but then I went on to say, “Ya, she was really pretty.” He then was like, “Wait, what?” and I told him to just drop it, but then last night he was like, “Hey, are you bi?” and now he knows. It was kinda funny because he said a lot of comments I’ve made in the past now make a lot more sense. 😀 (F/14/Bi-curious/queer)
Story #1825
When I came out, it took me nearly 20 minutes to get the words out after I told my mom that I needed to talk to her. Even though I knew she would be accepting, the words wouldn’t come out of my mouth and I turned bright red. I finally said, “I’m gay,” and she hugged me and said she loved me. She told my dad, who brought it up in the car one day and just said that he accepts me. I’m planning to tell my friends but I’m scared they’ll treat me differently and be weirded out if they know that I’m a lesbian. (F/15/Lesbian)
Story #1823
When I came out, I was 13 years old (yeah, pretty young, I know). It started with me buying little heart stickers with the Pansexual flag on them. I started hiding them all over my house for about a year and a half, until my parents finally asked about them. I told them that I’m Pansexual, and they couldn’t be more supportive! Now every year on May 20, my parents send me little heart-shaped cookies with the Pansexual flag on them!! (F/22/Pansexual)
Story #1822
When I came out to my mom just a few days ago (because my siblings discovered that I was dating someone, though they did not know that it was a girl) I came out hoping that my mom would support me for who I am because have been always quiet and my mom was the only one close to me. However, it was the opposite. She became very upset, called me abnormal, begged me to change who I am, and blamed my partner as if she had brainwashed me into this kind of life. My mom also asked me not to tell my siblings and told me to stop crying because I was crying too hard and my dad might hear me. Everyone in my family are homophobic and I don’t know how my life will change after this and I’m honestly afraid. Right now all I can do is pray that my mom will not do anything to stop my relationship with my girlfriend. (F/20/Bisexual)
Story #1820
When I came out, my family was generally accepting at first, until I started telling my mom about a girl I was talking to at the time. After this, she started making fun of me and telling me that I was a “waste of a girl” and immediately sent me to a therapist. She also continued to tell me she’d “turn me straight” and that I need to give guys a chance. It’s been difficult but I’m proud to be who I am, no matter what she says or thinks. (F/17/Lesbian)
Story #1819
When I came out, it didn’t go as well as I thought it would. I was in 8th grade and told my best friend that I had feelings for another girl. She called me disgusting and said that to her being gay was severely wrong. I apologized to her and asked if we could forget about it, but she never spoke to me ever again. Today, 3 years later, I haven’t come out to anyone else because I fear they will take it the same way. (F/Lesbian)