When I came out, I was swimming in a pool with my sister and she was talking about how I suck at naming things. She said, “You should just let your wife… OR husband [with delay] name kids.” I then corrected her. The next day I hung a sign on my door saying “im gay” in rainbow colors. Then pretended to sleep. (M/13/Gay)
Story #1893
When I came out as bisexual — probably gay — to my best friend, he was very supportive and asked who I liked and stuff like that and told me we will always be best friends. But I still have to come out to my family who I have no idea if they are homophobic or not and if they will accept me. (M/12/Bisexual/Gay)
Story #1886
When I came out I didn’t really want to nor was I ever planning to. I was 14 and my parents got on my device; I had forgotten to delete the history so they saw that there was men on there. They asked if I liked men and I said yes. I knew what was going to happen since my family is very very religious; my dad called me a faggot and said that I would never have a relationship with God, and I do believe that. They set up meetings with people from the church to see how repentant I was for my “sin.” My mom would cry herself to sleep as if they were the ones suffering. After years of my dad counseling me about my “phase” I just lied and said I don’t like guys anymore. Now I’m older and about to go to college and I have a HUGE crush on this one guy. He asked if I was gay once because I often joke about it with him, but I feel there is no point in telling him or anyone. Thanks, mom and dad. (M/17/Gay)
Story #1885
When I came out I was 15 and in a car ride heading to soccer practice. She was very supportive. Then I told my best friend; she was totally cool with it. After that I told my other best friend that I liked guys and she thought that I meant athletic girls and it was kinda rough. I still didn’t come out to my dad yet and Imma probably wait till I am 25 ’cause he would not be supportive of me. (M/16/Gay)
Story #1876
When I came out it was to one of my friends during recess. I already told someone else, and she acted like nothing changed, when I told the other girl at recess she was so excited that she thought it was a good idea to tell everyone in the whole school by yelling it through the hallways. Now everybody knows that I like boys and I get made fun of all the time. Luckily I have a group of supportive friends who still love me for who I am! (M/12/Gay)
Story #1875
When I came out I was at my grandma’s eighty-year party when I called my friend (who previously told me she was bi) and I simply told her that I was bi. She was so happy and I felt so good by her reaction and by finally having told someone about it. A couple of weeks after that I told her I was actually gay and I finally told almost all of my friends and got the most amazing reactions that I could’ve asked for. I still have to tell my family. It is difficult but I know that it’ll happen eventually, and I’ll finally be completely myself. (M/21/Gay)
Story #1874
When I came out last night, my mom found out my twitter account and how I’m open to everyone that I’m gay. I’m still numb at the moment because my mom told me that she won’t judge me because at the end of the day, she’s still my mother, although she told me to attend counseling with her and my father, to attend a Christian retreat, and even to pray. I’m not against it because I know deep inside me that I have a true relationship with my God. What hurts me is that people thinks that it’s my choice to be like this, that I have a choice to be straight or whatever but deep inside I know I’m not being true to myself. I know they won’t understand where I’m coming from because after all, they haven’t experienced it anyways. I’m happy being gay, I’m free, I can be myself, but sometimes I wonder, how does it feel to be a straight person without the judgment of the people around you? (M/24/Gay)
Story #1873
When I came out a year ago it was the last day of school and the first day of pride month. I was trying to still do the things I wanted even though I was in the closet (I’d known I was queer for a couple years and known I was gay for one), so I was putting posters for an LGBT+ book club around town with my mom. We were in the car (of course) and she brought up the book club and all the gay books I’d been reading and straight up asked me. I wanted to tell her, but I physically couldn’t get the words out, so I had her guess and nodded when she said gay. I always knew she’d be okay with it, but I was still terrified, and in the moment I was sobbing even though nothing bad had happened. Actually, afterwards my mom told me she was bi and I was the first person in the world she told in 30+ years of keeping the secret. (F/16/Lesbian)
Story #1869
When I came out I had a boyfriend and he lived away from me. Every weekend he was going to visit me and my mother thought it was strange… and she asked me why he was always coming to my home. I created courage and said, “Because he’s my boyfriend.” She was shocked. (M/36/Gay)
Story #1866
When I came out I was pretty scared at first. My best friend was coming over for a sleepover. He saw a photo of gay guys on Instagram and was disgusted by it. I asked him would he still like me if I was gay and he said idk. Later we started talking about girls at school and he asked me to choose which one I liked most. I said I didn’t like any and he started explaining how attractive they are. I not knowing what to say accidentally told him I was gay and after a minute of silence he told me I should go and so I left in the middle of the night. We still go out with our group but barely talked to each other. A few days later he came by my home and when we entered the room he hugged me and said he misses me and that he still loves me. (M/15/Gay)