Gay Coming Out Stories

When I came out to my mom, it was an accident actually lol. We were talking about movie characters and I accidentally told her I wasn’t into girls. She was super awesome about it, as I knew she would be, and then I told my dad, who was also lovely about it. I started dating a guy pretty soon after that, so that’s when I socially came out. (M/17/Gay)

When I came out, it was in the 8th grade. I was hanging out with my cousins and they were talking about how friendly gay people were and I did the ahem noise and pointed at me. When they saw me, they gasped and hugged me tight as I cried, knowing I was supported. I still haven’t come out to my parents; they’re super religious. (M/13/Gay)

When I came out, it was in the 6th grade, most of my straight female friends noticed that I was staring at guys a lot and a few weeks later, they confronted me if I was gay. At first, I was startled but I quickly admitted it with tears running down my cheeks as my best friends hugged me tight. Thanks a lot, my fellow queers! (M/13/Gay)

When I first came out I was with my sister and we were at a restaurant. She called a friend of hers over and he sat with us. After an hour he got up to go to the bathroom and at that moment my sister looked at me and said, “So do you like him?” I was floored; all I could do was sit there. She looked at me and said, “I know, Brad.” I replied, “Yes, he is cute, and yes, I am gay.” My life got so much better after that night. (M/48/Gay)

When I came out, it was last year during summer school with a really close friend of mine. At the time I said I liked boy/girls and we had a great discussion and he was very understanding. It was also one my first times crying around another guy. It felt so healing. I had come out to a couple other people who took it well but that experience really gave me some internal confidence at least for a few months until other people around me started to make me feel like I have to go back to hiding myself. But also I don’t feel like I need to have a big coming out session, I just hope I find more people to come out to one on one. (M/17/Gay)

When I came out it was with my sister. She invited me over for dinner. I thought it was just going to be the two of us, but when I got there her friend Paul was there. So the thee of us sat down to eat and Paul sat right next to me. After dinner we had few drinks and I got my sister alone and asked her what was going on. Lori replied with “I thought you might like him.” I was so caught by surprise I said, “Yes, he is cute. And yes, Lori, I am gay.” This was the first time I have ever said this to anyone. Lori laughed and said, “Yes, I know, now go have some fun with him,” and she left us alone. I had a great time that night with Paul and I felt so good finally just being myself and not hiding the fact that I am gay. (M/30/Gay)

When I came out it was as a 57-year-old gay dad. My wife’s reaction was silence, as if to say “I thought so”. Some people did not believe me as it suited them to believe otherwise. Coming out as a gay man with children is more common than you would expect. It was a great relief to escape from the closet and be me — one of the best things I have ever done and have no regrets whatsoever, except that I wish I had done it years ago. (M/60/Homosexual/gay man)