When I came out, I was afraid. I had kept in the truth for three years, as I had read so many stories on abuse and bullying towards the lgbt group. However, when I told my parents, they were alright with it; at first they were confused, but now they are supportive. However, it was the friend issue I had trouble with. At first, I wrote, “I’m gay” on a piece of paper and showed it to a few of my close girl friends. However, one of them went round and told everyone, which was so annoying. I did lose a lot of respect from a lot of guys, but I have become ever closer with all the girls at my school. (M/17/Gay)
Story #1333
When I came out I lost a lot of friends. I first told my mom and she was fine but she thought it was a phase. I told my dad I was bi and he ignored it (denial). Friends stopped liking me and I’m moving out of South Africa after grade 12 for my safety. (I still have my closest friends and I’m the head of a LGBTQ+ group for South Africa’s Youth.) (M/16/Gay as a rainbow)
Story #1328
When I came out my parents weren’t accepting. My mom told me to hide my gayness and my dad refused to talk to me about it. Now I’m open with my school and all my friends accept me. (M/14/Gay)
Story #1326
When I came out I was really nervous about what the people I told would think, but they were all accepting. Three months later I am fully out at school and everyone that knows has been supportive. (M/15/Gay)
Story #1325
When I came out, it was to my best friend. She messaged me saying, “I think I’m a sociopath.” (She was joking.) I replied with, “I think I’m homosexual.” She was really cool and supportive about it. Haven’t come out to anyone else yet. (F/15)
Story #1324
When I came out, I almost started crying. My mom and I were sitting in our shared room, and I had been thinking about this moment for so long. I took a lot of deep breaths, and eventually I managed to say it: “I like girls.” My mom gave me a blank look and said, “No duh.” It wasn’t like I hadn’t dropped hints over the years, or hadn’t otherwise been really obvious about it — I just wanted to actually say it for once.
Story #1323
When I came out it was actually just yesterday over an actual letter to one of my best friends. I wrote a double-sided page with shaking hands. She just responded to me over text message and I couldn’t be any happier with her response: “hey, I just read ur letter, it doesn’t matter, ur still my best friend and I love you no matter what 😊.” (F/18/Gay)
Story #1321
When I came out to my cousin as gay she at first was very accepting but then she kept pressuring me to tell my parents I was gay, which is not a good idea because I grow up in a traditional strict Catholic family, and she now hates my girlfriend. My cousin and I used to be very close; now we never talk. (17/Lesbian)
Story #1320
When I came out to my childhood best friend we were casually texting one night and she asked how I was and I told her I had the flu and then she said, “that sucks” and I said, “it’s okay my girlfriend watched a movie with me.” She didn’t respond for a while and so I said, “sorry I wanted to tell u in person that I’m gay It just slipped.” She responded, “nah it’s cool I’m bi so it’s really not a big deal.” Then she responded, “60% of people are some type of gay who would have known my childhood best friend started it all.” I think I could have died at how hard I laughed.
Story #1319
When I came out to my sister I was super nervous, but when I told her I’m gay she was not fazed at all. She just said, “I knew it” and then gave me a hug and said, “I’m so happy you finally admitted you’re a lesbian.” I then asked her how she knew and she said, “You wear a lot of flannels.” She paused. “And you have a huge obsession with boobs.” We laughed all night and stayed up talking and I told her about the girl I was in love with and still am in love with. (She/her/17/Lesbian)