When I came out my family didn’t believe me. So I started making out with my girlfriend in front of them. They soon quickly realised I wasn’t joking. Some of them are struggling to come to terms but that’s their issue. 👩❤️💋👩🏳️🌈👩❤️💋👩🏳️🌈 (F/23/Lesbian)
Story #2495
When I came out to my friends at a sleepover they were all super weird. I know they accepted me but I hate how awkward it was. It’s not fair. We are different but that shouldn’t mean we have to feel like outsiders. Like what if we didn’t have to even think about being accepted or loved? What if we could just be us and it was normal?? And people didn’t look at us weird?? I really hope for the people that come after us that they don’t have to deal with anything this community does every day. (F/13/Bi)
Story #2490
When I came out to my friend, we were in the hallway walking after a club meeting. I’d had a raging crush on another girl for a really long time, and she’d gotten a boyfriend, which broke my heart, so I knew I needed someone to talk to about it. Plus I considered this friend my “therapist” so I realized she had to know. As we were walking, the first thing I thought I had to clear up was the fact that I’m not straight. So I kinda whispered it, and when she shouted “WHAT?” in a mostly empty hallway. I got scared that she might be homophobic or something. Still I said, “Yeah, I’m not straight.” She calmed down and said, “Oh yeah, I know. I thought you said you were and I got confused.” Definitely not how I thought that would go. 😂 (F/Pansexual)
Story #2484
When I came out as gay to my family I felt so much better and less alone. I have been a lesbian my whole life and I have hid this from my family because I was afraid of not being accepted. I used to pretend to have crushes on guys just so I would be seen as normal. But this made me feel extremely alone and my mental health suffered. Now that I came out I can finally be myself and talk about girls I like. I am so much happier and my mental health has improved a lot. My family is very supportive and I’m thankful they love and accept me. (F/Lesbian)
Story #2482
When I came out for the first time I was 17. I had forced myself to have crushes on guys before but I slowly realised that I was in fact a lesbian. I first came out to my best friend who I had a crush on. I was so nervous, but she took it really well and it turned out she is also a lesbian and we started kissing. Unfortunately my mum walks in as we are doing this and is really shocked but supportive. Overall I couldn’t have had a better coming out and my girlfriend is amazing. (F/17/Lesbian)
Story #2481
When I came out I told my 3 best friends first. I came out as lesbian, friend 1 also came out as a lesbian. Friend 2 came out as bisexual and friend 3 came out as pansexual. Friend 1 and I are now dating and friends 2 and 3 are dating. (F/Lesbian)
Story #2477
When I came out I was in a classroom full of now-former toxic friends, including my toxic crush who commented, “Wow, everyone in the room is so godd*mn gay” after someone else had mentioned their same-gender ex. Little middle school me, for whatever reason, decided it would be a wonderful idea to randomly blurt out, “That’s me!” Cue absolute silence in the classroom. I had been working out my sexuality for months now, after realizing my strange obsession with my friend wasn’t simply an obsession, it was, in fact, a huge-a** crush. The kids in that classroom went on to say some pretty awful things to me that year, after finding out who exactly my crush was, causing me to switch schools. This was the best choice I ever made, as now I have the best friends a queer little dork like me could ask for, who will support and love me no matter what my sexuality may be. (Female/non-binary/5/Pansexual)
Story #2475
When I came out I was looking with my mom at pride flags on the internet when I found a picture with a bisexual flag on it and I said, “That’s my flag.” And then she just said, “Okay, I never knew.” And then we just continued with looking at the flags. I was quite comfortable in that moment because my mom has always been queer positive. She is cis-hetero. I haven’t come out yet to my dad yet. I have come out to one of my pansexual and bigender friend that I have a crush on. She’s very nice. (F/10/Bisexual)
Story #2473
When I came out, I came out to my friends first. Most of them I already know were somewhere on the LGBTQIA+ spectrum, while some I didn’t and I was happy to learn what they were too! On the last day of school we decided to buy a bunch of pride flags and pins (since our last day was June 1st). It was awesome! We got a lot of positive feedback! Our straight ally friend even made us “gaycelets” (bracelets in the form of our specific pride flags). (F/12/Pansexual/Demisexual/Demiromantic)
Story #2470
When I came out, it was back in January. I have actually documented my story not too long ago, but that was before I came out to my dad and sister. Me and family were going to a pride parade (my first one!!) and before we left, I sat my dad down, showed him my flag, and told him I was aroace. He said that he kinda knew already because of my disinterest in romance. He said he obviously still loved me and didn’t say anything that I was too young because he knows that I know best. I was so happy! When I went to the parade, my sister noticed it but didn’t ask about it. Just remember you’re valid! And to my ace-spec and aro-spec fam: You are totally part of the community! Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise! (F/13/Aroace)