When I came out I outed myself to my best friend when we were talking about a conversation she had with mom. My mom is really pushy about knowing everything about school and my social life and I didn’t realize that not all parents are like that. I said something about my mom pestering me about boys in my grade and if I had a crush and then my friend asked me if I had a crush. I was currently crushing a girl in our grade and I told her. She didn’t make a big deal out of it and we had a very short conversation about my sexuality at a sleepover that weekend. I recently told her that I was exploring my gender indentity and that I might be non-binary and she has been using my preferred name and pronouns. I haven’t told any of my other friends or family so that will be an interesting but someone accepts me!
Story #2708
When I came out I was thirteen, having just realized I was pan after an all-girls sleepover (very classic story, I know). I told my other queer friends, who were wonderfully supportive. Then I told my (now former) best friend, who was less accepting and outed me to everyone at our summer camp. My parents took a while to come around, and I’m still not sure if my mom completely gets it, but my dad insists on buying me pride merch. Today, I’m a queer college student with cool gay and straight friends 🙂 I remember being comforted by the stories on here back then, and now I’m proud to share mine. To anyone figuring out who they are: it’s okay not to know yet, and it’s okay for your identity to change, just remember that things will get better and you will find people in the world who love you for who you are. (Female(ish)/Queer)
Story #2707
When I came out to my family, I was scared. I gave half-truths. “Would you accept me if I dated a man? How do you feel about my transfem friend?” Only after months of subtle questions did I, at 20 years old, finally admit to them: I am a woman. (F/29/Trans Fem/Pansexual/Lesbian)
Story #2706
When I came out I was fifteen, despite knowing I was queer for a very long time. I had only identified as transmasc for a year though, and the attraction I suddenly felt for boys was new as well. So it was nerve-wracking, but I had realized I couldn’t live with the dysphoria and pain I felt daily. I wanted literally nothing more than to be seen as a boy, to have a boyfriend, to be finally happy and comfortable. I told two friends first, and it didn’t go over so well, which was discouraging. But I pushed on and I’m glad I did. It was awkward and really weird at first honestly, but over time it got better. It’s been a while, and I don’t have a boyfriend just yet, but in the words of Ethel Cain, if it’s meant to be then it will be. If you’re reading these for motivation to come out, as I did for years before I actually did, this is your sign to go for it! If you know you’re in a safe situation at least, I promise you, it’s worth it. It may be weird, it may be awkward, it may even hurt for a little. But nothing can beat the happiness of living as your true self, I promise. (Male [FtM]/16/Achillean)
Story #2705
When I came out to my school it was in 4th grade. I got bullied through 5th grade, but finally when I reached 6th grade the bullying stopped. I just recently came out to my mom and she said, “That’s good to know when you’re young” 😳 (Genderfluid/12/Pansexual)
Story #2704
When I came out I was eight years old. My family wasn’t thrilled about it and took a while to use the right pronouns. They started by just calling me by my name, then using they/them pronouns, until finally they used he/him. It took years for them to comfortably use the right pronouns, and the past three or four years it’s been completely seamless. It took a while, but once they realized that it wasn’t a phase and that it was what I wanted, they became incredibly accepting. It will be hard at first, but after a while it gets sooo much easier. (M/17/FtM)
Story #2703
When I came out, it was over a text message. I made a massive letter and sent it on the bus with my (very) supportive friends. After school, I saw the reply and my mum said “ok cool”. Honestly couldn’t have wanted a better response haha. My mum even found me trans ftm friends. I now am living my best life as a guy. (M/13/FtM)
Story #2702
When I came out, it was back in June-ish of 2024. It was a youth camp thing and it was 11 at night and all the girls in my tent were just talking and for some reason the topic of queer people came up and all at the same time four of the six people in the tent cautiously came out as some form of LGBT, which I find hilarious looking back on it. I always suspected they’d be chill with me queer but not queer themselves. Anyway, that was back when I thought I was bi, but have since realized I am abrosexual and transmasc. I still haven’t come out to my homophobic and transphobic parents, but my pals always have my back. (Demiboy/Abrosexual)
Story #2701
When I came out as gay it was first at my friend over text and he was cool with it. My other friend asked me if I was gay in the midst of our conversation, and she was supportive about it, even asked who is my crush. I finally told my parents in a letter about my sexuality and they were super supportive. Still haven’t told my extended family but with my parents and friends with me I can do it. (Side note: I eventually told all my friends and they were chill about it.) I still haven’t told anyone I am non-binary. (Non-binary/13/Gay)
Story #2700
When I came out it was just to my friends. My parents are homophobic, so I didn’t know that girls and girls were accepted. In 7th grade I found out I like girls and told a few friends. I’m in 9th now and gave a letter to my crush at the beginning of the year and got humiliated by all of the people in theatre. Now I have a crush on my best friend. (F/14/Lesbian)