When I came out I felt like I could actually be myself. The process of coming out was bittersweet because my parents are divorced and I knew one would take it better than the other so I came out to my mom and dad on two different days. While my dad and I were on our way to church it took all of the strength and courage to say the words “I’m gay”. As the words left my mouth the tears started to slowly slide down my face because I knew his standing point on LGBTQ. We had a very long battle for 4 years because I wasn’t willing to settle for someone I am not. I am now proud to say that he loves me for who I am, as well as my husband. (M/21/Homosexual)
Story #2014
When I came out it was 2007 and I was 27 years old, though I’d known I was gay since I was about 12. I came out to my best (girl) friend first… she was amazing… Next was my childhood buddy (more like a brother). He was great to me, but slightly freaked out. Then I told my mom, who I always thought would be my “champion”, and she freaked out and called my dad… and my father, the supreme jock, the masculine supreme, accepted me straight up for who I was and told me to stop worrying about being myself!!! So… don’t hold back for people you think may be “disappointed”, do you… the lovers will always love! (M/39/Gay)
Story #2010
When I came out, it was first to my best friends at my lunch table. They were very supportive, as many of them were members of the LGBTQ+ community. After that, I started putting gay (you know: rainbow hearts, love is love pins, the like) on my backpack. I still hadn’t come out to my parents so they were a little surprised to see those pins on my bag. One day I walked in and my parents said they wanted to talk. I had been working up the courage to talk to them and tell them but it was right then I knew it was time to. I told them that I had realized that I liked both boys and girls and I hoped that they could accept me as I was. That when my mom told me that she was actually bisexual as well and that before she had met my dad, she went out with several women in college. That helped me know that I could trust my mom and my dad with anything I was feeling, about anyone, and I count them as not just my parents, but two of my best friends. (M/16/Bi)
Story #2009
When I came out, it was to my friends. I was super nervous so instead of saying that I was trans I just kind of said, “By the way, I’m a guy.” Everyone was super supportive and all of them are LGBT+. I also came out to my dance teacher and my history teacher, both of whom are very supportive. I haven’t come out to my transphobic parents yet, but I plan to come out on New Year’s as my resolution. I’m pretty nervous but also excited. (M/13/FtM/gay/panromantic)
Story #2006
When I came out as bi to my friends they were all so happy for me and showered me with support and love. Later on I realized I was actually gay. I really wanted to tell my parents but I was so scared how they would react; one day it became too much to hold in so a wrote them a note explaining to them that I was gay. The next day my parents told me they loved me and supported me no matter what. I felt so relieved after. (M/16/Gay)
Story #2003
When I came out it was just before Thanksgiving, and this was the last I would be at home before leaving for basic training. I knew that I needed to tell them beforehand and didn’t wanna make the holidays awkward. I told my dad first when we sat in the car while my mom shopped. He was always very open about how he felt about gay people so I was concerned, but he actually responded very calmly and positively. Later that night I told my mom and she couldn’t talk… just held her head in her hands and didn’t say anything. To be fair she has anxiety (just like me) so I probably overwhelmed her, and afterwards she came into my room and we had a long talk about how it didn’t matter and I just needed to go into the world and be happy. Overall pretty positive. (M/17/Gay)
Story #2002
When I came out the day before my birthday because I felt I needed to get things off my chest to grow up even more, my mom and I were sitting on my bed talking about like or whatever and all of a sudden I said, “Mom, I have something really important to tell you but don’t freak out.” She was like, “Go on,” and I started telling her, “I prefer boys over girls, I am into boys.” She immediately replied, “How do you know that? You’ve never gotten into a relationship with a girl, am I right ? So I think you should give them a try before doing anything else.” I tried to make her understand that I will never change, I was born this way and kept telling her I had never opted for this… At the end, she said, “I made you, not your heart, you’re able to love whoever you want, I will always love you.” (M/18/Gay)
Story #2000
When I came out this month I cried a lot. My anxiety was begging me to do something about my entire life, because I accumulated a lot of issues and was having a lot of crisis and panic attacks through the year (of course realising I’m trans last year and having to deal with dysphoria wasn’t being helpful). I sat down and cried it all out with the only person I ever trusted with my life, my ex-boyfriend. He said he was fine with it (and even said he never stopped loving me!). He came out as pansexual and we both agreed on being best friends and tell everything to each other. I even told him that when I finally start taking T shots and officially change my name we can try something again, haha! I am still waiting to come out to my mom and my sister. I know they will accept at some point, but as I live in a country that’s specially dangerous to LGBTQ+ people, I’ll wait a bit more. Wish me luck! (Male [FTM]/16/Bisexual)
Story #1993
When I came out, I cried. It has always been something I’ve held close to my chest, and to tell someone something I had considered wrong and taboo was terrifying as much as it was freeing. I came out to my good friend, and then my little sister, then my friends, and recently my school and my mother. I’m just waiting for my father to figure it out at this point, and it’s terrifying. However, I’ll never regret accepting myself for who I am and trying to be happy. (M/18/Transgender FtM)
Story #1987
When I came out, I was 12. This still makes me cringe, but it was 11PM and I was bored and was watching coming out videos. I was feeling brave and since my sister was asleep I just texted her that I was gay so she could see it in the morning. There was some awkward tension at first but we never really talk about it. (M/13/Gay)