When I came out to a few of my yearbook friends today, I felt so relieved to be honest with them. I’ve been dropping hints for a while now, but they were still clueless. So today in class we were looking at club lists for high school and I came across an LGBT+ club and showed the others. We talked about it a little and then I said, “I should join that club.” They looked at me confused for a millisecond and then I continued to say, “Because I’m bi.” My friends were so supportive and one of them even came out as pan to us. I’m so happy I told these amazing people, since yearbook class really is my safe place. (F/14/Bi)
Story #1762
When I came out to my friend, I didn’t really come out. We were just talking and we slowly discovered together our sexuality. I guess I needed someone to help me understand myself. Now I’m a lesbian and she’s bi. (F/18/Lesbian)
Story #1760
When I came out to my friend, I had been casually dropping hints for months. I never would have guessed that she was going through the exact same thing, and having her there to understand really lifted a weight off my shoulders. I told my best friend that I liked her and she treated me no different than before. I never thought she would be so understanding. (F/13)
Story #1759
When I came out it was to a girl I had just meet. We were avoiding having to do any actual exercise at P.E and I just blurted it out. It felt so good to get that off my chest and she gave me so much support. Telling some of my closer friends and mother was different, but I am so glad about the love I got from the real friends in my life. Coming out has really helped me embrace and love myself and others around me. (F/15/Pansexual)
Story #1757
When I came out it was to a small group of friends. One of my friends came out to us as bi, and I, without realising, just blurted out, “Oh yeah, me too.” They were really accepting and sweet, and me and my bi friend just talked about our crushes. I wish my parents will give the same reaction when I tell them in the near future. (F/13/Bisexual)
Story #1753
When I came out it was one of the worst days of my life, not because my family didn’t accept me but a hour after telling them I got the worst call of my life. My best friend took his life. And his last request was that I come out to my school, and so I did. Bullies got worse, but I’m happy because I fulfilled his last request. (F/13/Bi)
Story #1752
When I came out I had already told my mom the week before. So we are in the car with my best friend and his dad and I’m talking to my mom about my grandmother (strictly Catholic) and how to tell her, and my friend’s dad was like, “Wait, are you coming out of the closet?” and I said, “Well, I’m bi so ya,” then he went, “OK cool and don’t tell your grandmother.” (F/14/Bi)
Story #1749
When I came out a few months ago to my mom, she kept asking me if I found any guys cute (from school and different bands), and eventually asked if I would ever like guys. I said no, and so right before I left the room she asked if I liked girls, and I smiled and said yes, thinking my coming out had gone well to my conservative mom. But she ignored it. Now, she’s back to badmouthing the LGBT+ community for being “too sensitive” (in front of me) and has already made a “you may marry that guy friend of yours one day!” joke. It really hurts when your parent’s claims that they’ll accept you turn out to be fake.
Story #1748
When I came out to my dad last night, he basically told me it was a phase and that I didn’t know what I was talking about. This morning he said, “Sometimes gay women forget that they’re female, and they wear men’s clothing and cut their hair short. Gay men sometimes are too gay and they are hard to be around. Don’t forget that you’re a girl. ” and I am a feminist, and I nodded and said I understood like the feminine person he thought I was. I was on my period. When I got to school I started to cry. I hated myself for lying to everyone. I hated my dad. But now I’m trying to move past him. Today I plan to become open and show him that his pansexual daughter doesn’t care about how he sees me. (F/12/Pansexual)
Story #1747
When I came out I had known I wasn’t straight for a while, but had only admitted I was full-on lesbian a couple of months before. I was having a heart-to-heart conversation with my mum and she asked me what had been worrying me the past year, so I gave her some clues and she guessed, saying, “Well, I know you’re not taking drugs, so you might be wondering whether you like boys, or girls.” She said it really simply, it was super nice, and because of that I plucked up the courage to tell one of my closest friends, who is gay herself and just straight (ha…) up texted her, “I just came out to my Mum.” She replied… “Out of what?” and listed many options, about 15 of them, ranging from “the closet” to “a tuba.” (F/Lesbian)