When I came out to my friends, some accepted me and some didn’t. I got bullied a lot and still am. Although it’s hard to be in a negative place, I managed. I’ve had two partners and they were toxic, but now I’ve found the perfect partner and she is uber supportive and kind. My sister was next, and she and I are the misfits of the family so she has pretty much accepted me. My brothers and parents I still have to deal with, and I have to wait till I’m older but soon I will and we will see if they react badly. Coming out is scary, especially if you have religious parents/toxic parents, but if you try and fail keep trying and keep the people you love close! (Genderfluid/12/Gay/poly)
Story #2372
When I came out I was a nervous wreck! I couldn’t sleep as I felt I was ready to tell them. So I got up around 11pm and walked up to them. I came out to my close sister the same day that I came out to my mum and dad. I told dad first. I said due to my past I’m gay. And dad said as long as I was happy, and mum said she already knew!!! So I all told my mum’s mum and I didn’t have a very good reaction out of her. She said I was too young to know, which wasn’t true, but I told her again and she accepted me. (F/15/Lesbian/gay)
Story #2363
When I came out I told my friends first (who all turned out to be queer too, I just had the ultimate swag to come out first lol) and they were very accepting. Then I told my parents, who were accepting but also cold and skeptical, especially my mom, who thought that I didn’t know enough about gender identities to decide for myself. She convinced me I was non-binary, which was kinda wack, but when I re-came out again she respected it, and now she even supports me starting T! (FtM/17/Gay)
Story #2331
When I came out was only recently but I have always known I was gay. Sometimes deep down denial but always obvious to me — gay porn and gay sex kind of was convincing. Anyways, coming out slowly to my trusted friends was wonderful. But coming out to myself was first the most important step. If you are struggling, first ask yourself, can I come out to myself? Then everything else will follow. Peace and love. (M/57/Gay)
Story #2330
When I came out I basically wrote a note saying to a girl who had a crush on me. I remember exactly what I wrote: “I’m sorry but I’m not interested in you, nothing personal. I think I am gay because I kinda have a crush on the new kid in science class.” After she read it, she came up to me and said, “It’s ok, I support you.” I felt really relieved! (M/Gay)
Story #2323
When I came out I was 25 years old and had just broke up with what was to be my last boyfriend (I tried so hard to be straight for so long). I had just felt so unhappy that one day I had a conversation with myself: “You’re not happy and you could be. I’m gay.” A week later I came out to friends and family and haven’t looked back. (F/30/Gay/lesbian)
Story #2300
When I came out I was ashamed of who I was. I’d switched from demigirl, to agender, and then finally to demiboy. It was a process of letting go of the femininity I despised in myself and accepting the masculinity. I didn’t want to admit that I was partially male, because I didn’t even like men. I realized it was just an internalized hatred and accepted myself. I have been happier ever since. (Demiboy/15/Gay)
Story #2299
When I came out to my mom, she said she accepted me, but kept misgendering me. I remember telling her I wanted to change my name, and she got really mad. Recently I talked to her about constantly misgendering me, and she said that I was “too young to know”, which is stupid. When I came out to my dad, he said I didn’t “act like a boy”, and wouldn’t refer to me as one. I’m lucky to have friends, an aunt and a few cousins that accept me. (Transmasculine/13/Gay)
Story #2293
When I came out, it was at a Halsey concert in 2018. I was with my twin brother and his girlfriend. She said to yell if you were lgbtq+, and I yelled. My brother and his girlfriend were SHOCKED. They asked me what I was and I said I was gay. The first thing my brother said was “omg this all makes sense now, I’ve always wanted a gay bro”. On the other hand, his girlfriend won’t talk to me any more. (M/19/Gay as hell)
Story #2276
When I came out as gay, my mom gasped (it was over the phone) and dismissed it. When I halfway came out as trans, my mom and grandma degraded queer people in an attempt to change my mind. I have been told that my brother and sister (among other people) are not allowed to know. My mother told me today that my brother and sister are not allowed to listen to Lil Nas X or Jojo Siwa because he (Lil Nas X) is gay and she (Jojo Siwa) is pansexual, and my poor sister loved Jojo Siwa. My friends are super supportive, and save me every day from a world of sadness, but it hurts that my friends accept me more than my own mother, and I’m sorry for anyone who is in this situation or worse. (F/15/Gay/trans)