When I came out to my boyfriend I was so nervous. I am biologically female, but I identify as He/They. He told me that he is supportive no matter what, and that he’ll love me just the same. I was so happy. He asked me what to call me, he’s told his family, and he’s been helping me out tremendously. If your partner truly loves you, they will accept you for who you are! If they don’t, then they’re not worth it. (Non-binary/male/16/Bisexual)
Story #2530
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)
Story #2523
When I came out it was when I was in 7th grade. People did not really like that I was trans male and and pansexual, but then in 8th grade I met this group called deep and they were all supportive and it made me happy. (Trans male/13/Pansexual)
Story #2522
When I came out to my best friend, who is straight, via text I was unsure whether he would accept me or not. He was going through a rough time and I always tried to be there for him (as good friends should); during some of our conversations he assured me that if I ever had something that I would want to talk about I could just reach out. That night, we had been texting for a long time already. I wrote down all my thoughts on my notes app, took the chance, and decided to send it to him. I remember shaking as my phone vibrated but after reading his response I felt a strong sensation of relief: he accepted me. If you had asked me half a year earlier I never would have believed that I would have gotten the courage to tell him or anybody for that matter. I’m thankful for having a friend like him. (M/17/Bisexual)
Story #2521
When I came out to my best friend who is bisexual, I was pretty nervous but I knew she would accept me so I kept confident. I came out via text while we played an expose game and we had to write stuff about us and you could guess if it was true or false. I wrote that am trans and use he/him pronouns. And she was just like stunned first and then asked if it was true and I said yes. Then she told me how proud she was of me coming out and that she would try her best to not misgender me. (She misgendered me pretty much all the time in the start, but after like a month it got better but she still forgets my name now sometimes.) (Trans male/13)
Story #2519
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)
Story #2516
When I came out to my aunt, I was terrified. Me, my younger brother, my parents, and my aunt were on a road trip to Miami for my cousin’s wedding. I had my Kindle Fire that my parents let me use for long trips, and I had this little drawing app made for little kids, one of those where the only option for pen color was rainbow. I thought about it for about half an hour, silently weighing my options. Finally, I wrote it out, and tapped her leg. “I need to tell you something,” I wrote. “Don’t react out loud, my parents don’t know. I’m Trans. I just wanted to tell you.” She paused the show she was watching to read. She grabbed her phone, and hopped onto a spam text she got. “That’s nice,” she said. “I support you. Be yourself.” Moral of the story: Be yourself. It can be scary, but it’s worth it. Take small steps, and you don’t have to come out to everyone at the same time. Be you! (Trans Male)
Story #2504
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)
Story #2503
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)
Story #2500
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)