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)
Story #1861
When I came out to my family as gay they considered it a joke, phase, or something for attention. They didn’t think of asking me if I liked someone or anything. What shocked me more was that all my friends were the ones who supported me and cared, but it hurt that my family didn’t care or didn’t want to believe that their daughter was gay. They started trying to get me a boyfriend, which was not wanted of course, and I told them to stop but they continued to ship me with guys who were my closest friends. IDK if they are homophobic or just confused, but I can’t bring myself to hate them for not being happy for me. (F/13/Gay/Lesbian)
Story #1860
When I came out it was to my stepsister. We were generally really open to each other, telling each other about our crushes and drama. But as I started to discover myself I became more secretive, until eventually she sat me down and asked why I never talk to her anymore. After a lot of pestering I told her I was gay. Telling her was a big step in me coming to terms with it myself. I’m now officially out and couldn’t be happier. (M/15/Gay)
Story #1859
When I came out I was surprised by myself. I always knew what my sexuality was but I vowed I would never tell anyone. I told my best friend the day after we saw a gay coming of age movie together. She was extremely supportive and I’m so glad I have her. This year I went to my first pride and I couldn’t stop crying seeing all the love around NYC. Now it’s just time to come out to my extremely religious Chinese parents who asked me if I was going to pride to pick up girls… (M/15/GAYYY)
Story #1858
When I came out this year my mom started crying, saying that being gay isn’t a real thing and people just say that and started blaming things like the places we lived, my dad not being home enough, etc. My dad went and hit me, and I had a bruise on my back and I had to change for gym and someone, who I thought was super homophobic, asked what it was and I told them and they’ve been so supportive. Now I have a whole support group, haha! My parents have had multiple people talk to me to fix me. I’m not allowed to tell anyone… especially my brothers (I’m the oldest) because they don’t want me to do to them what “someone did to me”, make me “think” I’m gay. I’m not allowed to hang out with boys nor anyone who seems gay or seems like they would be supportive of it. They said I’m going to hell, my mom compared it to murder, and my dad said it’s the same thing as him having a relationship with a desk. But my friends are helping me get through it and it’s getting better. 🙂 I think (M/17/Gay/bi?)
Story #1854
When I came out I was in a relationship with a woman for 8 years. She didn’t take it well and unfortunately we had to stop talking completely.
Luckily I met a very wonderful man and he has been a huge help through this. I love him more than I could have imagined loving another person was possible. More importantly I love finally being me. (M/25/Gay)