When I came out the first time, I told my mom I was bi, because she’d asked if was gay, and I wasn’t ready to tell her, so I panicked. When I got to college, I finally told her I was a lesbian, but she questioned it because she didn’t think I’d ever been with anyone sexually, so how could I possibly know? I’d always been pretty masculine, but it was the mid-90s, and I’d come from a long line of tomboys who’d turned out straight, so she didn’t think I was any different. There was little info about trans-people readily available at the time — even Google was brand new! — and I was almost out of college before I ever met a trans-person, or understood that there were people who felt like me, who’d spent their entire lives trying to figure out why nothing ever felt right. I married a woman when I was 23, but it would be a few more years before I’d hit a wall and realize I needed to transition for my sanity’s sake. My wife and I have been together for over 20 years, my family has been 1000% supportive, and transitioning saved my life. (FtM/44/Pan)
Story #2586
When I came out, I was scared because my parents were not only devoted Christians, but they were heavy conservatives. Me and my bisexual twin sister came out to my parents shortly after we got home from church and their reaction shocked us. They smiled and gave us a big hug, saying they love us. But they always warn us not to act gay at church or around family. So, I guess you can say I may have won the battle but I lost the war. Haha. (M/13/Pansexual)
Story #2578
When I first came out when I was 12 I came out as ftm and bi. Well, not exactly, I was outed because I had a severe mental breakdown and couldn‘t handle lying anymore. Afterwards I got told I was “confused” and that I was going through a “phase”. I also had to befriend and unfriend some people because my mom thought they were a bad influence and made me that way. The people I befriended turned out to be some degree of homophobic too. Nowadays I‘m 14 and I still feel this way. I often cry because I feel dysphoric. I‘m scared of coming out too because of what happened last time, but I think my family would be more supportive this time. (They/he/14/Masc non-binary/pansexual)
Story #2546
When I came out, my whole life fell apart. I was born a girl and I never felt like one. I was popular and funny but deep down, I never saw myself as the type of girl to wear skirts or put makeup on or talk about boys. When I was 13, I mustered enough courage and told my mom and dad I didn’t feel like a girl. My dad’s face went from curious to shocked and my mom tried to tell herself it was a dream. They kept saying mean things to me, but I try hard to ignore them. Now, I identify as a pansexual and I’m still trying to figure out my identity. (Questioning/14/Pansexual)
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 #2505
When I came out, I was a huge wreck, and I was about to go perform with a band and the singer was a girl I really liked. Right before I was about to go on, I started crying and I had a huge nosebleed, so my mum took me for a walk. There I confessed to her (through tears) that I was questioning and it wasn’t til today I realised the description of pansexual completely match what I feel. After like 2 years I have finally been able to come out to pretty much everyone I know and I’ve had nothing but love 🙂 (F/14/Pansexual)
Story #2493
When I came out to my friends and some of my family, I was 11. I was scared but when I told them I was non-binary and pan they were supportive. My aunt still calls me my dead name at times but I don’t think she really means it… but yea I have a lovely boyfriend. (Non-binary/14/Pansexual)
Story #2490
When I came out to my friend, we were in the hallway walking after a club meeting. I’d had a raging crush on another girl for a really long time, and she’d gotten a boyfriend, which broke my heart, so I knew I needed someone to talk to about it. Plus I considered this friend my “therapist” so I realized she had to know. As we were walking, the first thing I thought I had to clear up was the fact that I’m not straight. So I kinda whispered it, and when she shouted “WHAT?” in a mostly empty hallway. I got scared that she might be homophobic or something. Still I said, “Yeah, I’m not straight.” She calmed down and said, “Oh yeah, I know. I thought you said you were and I got confused.” Definitely not how I thought that would go. 😂 (F/Pansexual)
Story #2488
When I came out I was 16. My family looked like their whole life died in one single moment. I was kicked out of my home and every time I tried to go back my dad will try to shoot me with his gun, which he shoot a bullet through my leg once. But now I’m doing better. I have a lover who is trans male like me and we adopted two lovely kids. (M/22/Trans/pansexual)
Story #2477
When I came out I was in a classroom full of now-former toxic friends, including my toxic crush who commented, “Wow, everyone in the room is so godd*mn gay” after someone else had mentioned their same-gender ex. Little middle school me, for whatever reason, decided it would be a wonderful idea to randomly blurt out, “That’s me!” Cue absolute silence in the classroom. I had been working out my sexuality for months now, after realizing my strange obsession with my friend wasn’t simply an obsession, it was, in fact, a huge-a** crush. The kids in that classroom went on to say some pretty awful things to me that year, after finding out who exactly my crush was, causing me to switch schools. This was the best choice I ever made, as now I have the best friends a queer little dork like me could ask for, who will support and love me no matter what my sexuality may be. (Female/non-binary/5/Pansexual)