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 #1978
When I came out I only told one of my kind of friends but she was lesbian, so I thought she would accept me and she did (I’m trans btw). I haven’t really told anyone else. I told a friend and she asked if I like girls and I said not really, then she proceeded to tell me that I wasn’t a boy then. I haven’t told my parents but I will on January 23rd (my birthday) and I’m scared. (Trans[FtM]/15)
Story #1969
When I came out as transgender, my mother was so accepting. My dad isn’t so much, but my mum and I are moving out soon anyway, so it’ll be great; it already is. I was so so scared of saying it, so I wrote it on a letter and drew a tiny 🏳️🌈 to show MY
GAYNESS! 😂 (F/17/Lesbian)
Story #1968
When I came out, I was 12 when I told my friends that I was trans, and they said, “Oh that’s cool” but still always called me a girl and used my birth name. I told my parents on the 4th November 2018 and they kicked me out of the house. I’m back home now though, and my mom’s coming around, although my step-dad thinks it’s a massive joke (he thinks the same about my anxiety and depression). I suffer with really bad dysphoria but I haven’t self-harmed since 12th October and I’m very proud of myself. I now get called my preferred name and pronouns at school but my peers are transphobic and bully me. (Male [FtM]/13/Heterosexual)
Story #1967
When I came out I walked up to my parents and was like, “I’m a girl.” They weren’t the most supportive (read: super transphobic), but my cousins and sister made up for it by using my preferred pronouns. As soon as I told them, it felt like a weight that had been on my chest after I had come out to my parents had been lifted off, and I hope to be openly transgender soon. (F/12/Lesbian)
Story #1962
When I came out in 1974, when I was 9, I was watching a documentary about a Transsexual woman when I realised what I was. I told my mum, who said, “Talk to your father.” He was a homophobe, and I was very scared. I kept my feelings inside for many years, also because I preferred girls over boys, so I was so confused. This is my second time around living as a Female. (Trans Female/54/TransBian)
Story #1919
When I came out my teachers were so much more accepting than my actual genetic family, so I actually started to call my teachers “mom” and “dad”, and when one of them asked about it I started sobbing and telling them how my family didn’t wan’t me to be a trans man and still like men, they wanted me to be a straight female cheerleader like my sister. Eventually my mom started to come around, but even to this day we’re still working on it. If you’re wondering, I was 12 when I first came out and started being myself in my comfortable form. My dad still thinks that I’m faking it for attention, as do some of the kids in my grade (I’m now in 9th grade). To any of the other trans kids whose parents aren’t completely accepting: I know that this is going to be just about the only thing that you’ll hear from other trans role models, but it does get better. Before my family accepted me, we had a lot of tension, and we still do, but it’s up to you whether you’re going to take the initiative and help your family understand that it isn’t a phase. It is not for attention. You are you, and no matter how much they might wish you weren’t, they can never change you. (M/14/Gay)
Story #1904
When I came out to my mum as a trans man she told me that nobody will love a woman without breasts and she didn’t want me to talk about it. She denied my gender Identity even until the moment of her death. She told my father, who said that if I was happy then everything was okay. My friends took it well and my family too. (FtM/27/Pansexual)
Story #1902
When I came out I was in the car with my dad. He asked me why I was so down all the time. I replied that I felt that I was born in the wrong body. He said he was supportive at first but turned out to be horribly transphobic. My mom is the only supportive family member (that knows, anyway). Now in school I’m starting to use my preferred name more and it has helped a lot. (Trans FtM/15/Pan)