When I came out I was at my camp. Everyone there was super-accepting, and they all used my pronouns. Several other kids and some of the staff were trans as well. I decided to come out to my mom, but I’m uncomfortable with talking to her so I wrote her a note and hid it in her bag. She read it while at work and after camp picked me up to talk about it. Once again, I didn’t want to talk. Since then she hasn’t said anything about it or used my pronouns, which hurts, but I can tell she’s trying. She let me cut my hair and bought me more masculine-looking clothes. I’m thinking about coming out to my Martial Arts group. (Genderqueer/13/Pansexual)
Story #1985
When I came out it was a total accident. I had already come out to my closest friends but my classmates didn’t know. I was sitting in class and the boy in front of me used gay as an insult. I was p*ssed so I said, “Don’t say that” and he turned around and said “What, are you gay?” And I said, “Well, yes, I am!” That shut him up. And that’s how I came out to my entire class. (F/15/Bisexual/pansexual)
Story #1981
When I came out, it was to a group of random strangers my age at a summer camp. I figured, “Well, since I’ll never see any of them again, I might as well say it”. Then, one of the other people there said they were gay, and I was like, that’s cool. Anyway, since then, I’ve been coming out to more and more people. For some strange reason, telling a bunch of random people that I’d never see again made me more comfortable with telling my friends. My parent have yet to find out…. (Genderqueer/13/Pan)
Story #1977
When I came out I was 16 and told my best friend and my parents. Back then I came out as bisexual and everyone accepted it. My parents, though, chose to ignore it and we never talked about it again. Now I’m 19 and I identify as genderqueer and pansexual, but I don’t have any intention in telling my parents again, because I know they would “just” accept it, instead of respecting me. So I stick with telling my friends about it and trying not to talk about my gender identity with my family. This way I make sure to surround myself with people who at least try to understand what I’m feeling. (19/Queer)
Story #1975
When I first came out, it was to my friend group. They are very supportive (all either ally or LGBTQ+), and now me and my closest friends have a funny greeting for each other! Working on telling family. Hopefully around Christmas!!! (Pan)
Story #1974
When I came out I started by coming out to my best friend. It was over messages and I was terrified for the next message. To my surprise she said she already suspected and still supported me no matter what. Over time I’ve come out to more and more of my friends with most of them supporting me. I just hope the same will happen with my parents. (F/14/Bisexual/pansexual)
Story #1966
When I came out to five of my friends they were all super supportive of me, and it turned out that all but one of them were LGBTQ+ too! The one friend who wasn’t was super supportive though. They accept me for who I am and use my proper pronouns and chosen name. I have bad anxiety so I’m too scared to come out to my parents anytime soon. Although I am glad that I came out to my friends. (Genderfluid/12/Pan)
Story #1961
When I came out I was 11 and nervous to tell my friends, so I took a note card, drew the pansexual flag on it, flipped it over, wrote the definition of pansexual, I wrote down that an example would be me, and made a really bad joke. Aiden and Grace said, “I knew it!” And gave me a fist bump. This was yesterday, and I’m coming out to three people tomorrow!!! (F/11/Pansexual)
Story #1960
When I came out it was totally unplanned. I had been emailing my girlfriend and my mom happened to see it and then outed me to my whole family, who all seemed uncomfortable with that. I think I may be non-binary as well as pan. But my mom would never accept that. All my friends are supportive and love me more for it. (F/14/Pan/non-binary?????)
Story #1957
When I came out — this was to my best friend — she said she knew before I had even told her. I remember it clearly because she had told me that she had a huge crush on me. We’re dating to this day, and that was over two years ago. She was the most supportive person I had ever had in my life, and I’m so thankful for her being there for me even when nobody else was. (Genderfluid/15/Pansexual)