When I came out to my older brother, he thought I was joking at first: he said I was too picky when it came to guys, and asked me what my type was, and I said, “Women.” He hugged me after and told me he accepted me and would keep my secret… and then started joking about it in front of my mom and making references to lesbian sex whenever he talked about me. I told him that I’d just been confused a couple months later. Sometimes, it’s just not the right time, and that’s ok. (Nonbinary/21/Gay/genderqueer/transgender)
Story #2219
When I came out I texted my friend right before I went to bed (probably not the best idea). I then woke up to the best text from her saying she’d try her best to get my pronouns and new name right but it would just take some time to get used to. I was so happy and almost cried because I was scared I’d lose my best friend ever. (Non-binary/11/Asexual/bisexual)
Story #2210
When I came out to my friend he immediately accepted me, and soon he told me that he was trans. It is great knowing that you have someone who understands. Coming out to him really brought us closer together and I am so happy I told him. (Non-Binary/12/Pansexual)
Story #2207
When I came out to my sister as Nonbinary, she accepted me right away and asked me for my pronouns. I told her the pronouns were they/them. She told me she could help me with the money for bottom surgery, and I’ve been thankful ever since! (Nonbinary/demiboy/12/Bisexual/pansexual/asexual)
Story #2200
When I came out, my Christian mom was so confused and unaccepting. I told her that I feel like I’m not female or male. She still uses she/her pronouns, when I asked her to use they/them. (Non-binary/12/Pansexual/enby)
Story #2197
When I came out to my parents, I didn’t come out, I was forced out. My mum and I don’t have the best relationship, so we don’t talk very much. Because of this my mum doesn’t trust me all that much. Well, one day my mum decided that I have to be hiding something so took my phone and went through it, reading EVERYTHING. She found out about my girlfriend and my identity. The first thing she did was kick me out, then, after about an hour, she let me back in. We talked — meaning she yelled at me — for about two hours and that was that. It was rarely mentioned again apart from the occasional ‘well-meaning’ homophobic comment. (Non-binary/16/Lesbian asexual)
Story #2190
When I came out to my friends as pansexual, it was in my groupchat from middle school just after the COVID quarantine began. When I told them, everybody was like, “Oh, you’re gay? Me too!” So now I have a groupchat of the gays. I just recently came out to them as non-binary and they’re really supportive. I’m going to a Catholic high school this year and there’s not a very LGBTQ+ friendly community, so I’m very thankful to have some supportive friends that I can talk to. I still haven’t come out to my parents, but I came out to my sister and my cousins earlier this year (only as pan, not as enby yet). (Non-binary/Pansexual)
Story #2189
When I came out I was scared and felt no one would understand me, but when I finally did my best friend came out too! School came and I told everyone I went by Alex and they/he pronouns. I just recently came out to my stepparent and am very close to coming out to my mom. I have a boyfriend right now who is very supporting. I’m slowly cutting out toxic people and coming out to everyone else. (Demiboy/nonbinary/14/Pansexual)
Story #2185
When I came out I was 13. At first I only came out to my best friend. She’s bisexual and uses she/they pronouns so I knew I’d be okay. We both worked on the school newspaper and we were talking about news stories we wanted to write. I said that I want to write a story about gender identity but that my “closeted anxious brain says no.” She had a mini-freakout and asked if she/they pronouns were correct. I told her they/them and later that day I told her I was polysexual! (NB/13/Polysexual)
Story #2184
When I came out, it followed with my dad outing me to my mam and my sister. I was lucky that they were all accepting of my sexuality, but now, 3 years after, I’m still working through my feelings on being outed by someone I trusted. (NB/18/Queer)