Mind sharing your coming out story?

Question

What did your family and friends say? Has your life changed in any emotional or even physical way? Have you become a better, freer person?

Answer 1

Well I told my friend Anissa by showing her a picture of a girl I liked. we were at my friend's house at the time and her parents are homophobes so I just told her it had something to do with the girl. She automatically assumed I killed the girl because I had a manic grin on my face. Then when I told her the truth she's said "Whoo hoo!  I finally have another L*****n friend!" It was awesome. I don't know why her first reaction was that I killed her though...:D  

Answer 2

I have 2 coming out stories.  First as a L*****n because that's what I thought I was, and then as a female to male transsexual.  

When I first came out as a L*****n, I told my best friend first.  I was 15 or 16.  Well..she ended up telling my whole high school.  I came from a very small town of only about 1,000 people, and it was a conservative, retirement community.  Not exactly well accepted. I was chased in the halls during lunch hours to the point that I was literally trying to find places to hide so no one would bother me.  I had people trying to run me over with cars in the parking lot after theater practice.  I had girls who wanted me out of gym class because they said I made them uncomfortable, even though I was just changing and going to gym class..and wasn't really interested in ANY girls at my school.  

   When I told my mom, she was surprisingly support-ish.  She said "I don't exactly understand, but you're my (then) daughter and I love you no matter what. It kind of comes with the parenting contract".  

When I came out as trans, that was a bit harder.  I started transition at 24 years old.  I first came out to my therapist, so that went pretty well.  I never got to tell my mom because she passed away before I could tell her.  It's been a long, hard uphill battle..I will say that much.  I've had lots of issues in regards to getting my name changed, getting hormones, facing discrimination with jobs, housing, etc.  Dealing with admissions and records for college, dealing with residence life and housing on campus, all kinds of stuff.  It's impacted my social life and especially my dating life.  As a L*****n, I had no real problems finding a partner, but as a transguy, lesbians no longer want me.  

   My life has changed in an emotional as well as physical way.  When you transcend gender norms, it really allows you to see people for who and  what they REALLY are.  You'll see how much gender plays a role in people's lives and how much we really focus on it.  You see how many people can't separate the difference between s*x and gender.  You'll see just how many people's attractions are based solely on what's between your legs.  You'll see all the perverts come out of the woodwork who only view transsexuals as some sort of sexual fetish object.  You'll see people who treat you as subhuman simply for being trans.  You'll run into people who think they have the right to treat you however they please because as a "tranny" you don't really have "feelings", because you're a "freak" and an "it".  

But ya know? Even though all that...I wouldn't change a thing.  This life journey has given me things I never would have otherwise.  I've become a stronger, braver, more confident person.  I've seen the good, the bad, and the ugly, and it's made me a more compassionate person.  It's made me wiser and has given me patience.  And of the friends that have stuck by me through it all, I know I have true friends for life.  I know who I am, and I'm true to myself.  I'm more self aware than a lot of people I know, and for that..I'm thankful and consider the whole thing worth it, for it's truly a blessing.  

Answer 3

haven't come out to family yet.....

:*( or my closest friend...

I'm a chickennnnnnnnn

Answer 4

Even though i have known since i was 10, due to my religious beliefs and my choice of career (i was headed for Lutheran seminary to become a Pastor) I got married. It was the wrong thing to do. It was horrific.I wanted to commit suicide. I was married to this woman for 2 years, and my feelings got the better of me. I decided one night to actually go to a g*y bar and check it out. The problem was, she was watching me. And she filed for divorce. Mind you, we had a child.

  After she left, i looked at myself and realized i could not keep the charades up any longer. I came out to my Mom the next day.

  You have no idea how liberating it was to not have to hide myself anymore.It was only then that i found out who i really, really was.

  This is my 27th year of being Out and i have never regretted it. Not for a millisecond. Yes i became who i really was, and it made me a freer, better person- in fact it MADE me a real person. My family has supported me from the first- without question. And i paved the way for my sister and 3 cousins to also become who they were.

Answer 5

I am older.

It was such a free weight that was lifted. I am still a bit closeted when I travel for work, but I am totally out otherwise.

Its reallly nice to know that the world reacts to you as you really are, not to you that they think you are.  

Before I came out... that was rough.  I was a very introverted person for 2 years.

Answer 6

Well I've only told two of my friends. I was in denial for a couple of weeks and they thought something was wrong with me. I wanted to tell them so badly, but was terrified to. Then we got into this fight about why I was acting so weird and I told them and they said word for word "that's whats been bugging you? Thats not even a big deal" I love my friends :)  I'm still too chicken to come out to anybody else, but I feel so free around my friends now being who I really am.

Answer 7

lisbeans made fun of me.

g*y guy teased me harshly.

str8 guys/girls just rolled their eyes.

my mom said i was crazy.

my dad wished me death.

ummmm yea i faced rejection from everyone. i nearly went completely nuts and wanted to commit suicide, but i didnt , i just moved on....

i did have a mental breakdown though

Answer 8

Well, here goes....

When I was 18 I finally started to become comfortable with the fact that I am...  "g*y". It took me a long time to even call myself that but I got use to it and became more comfortable each day. One day a friend of mine asked me right out. "Are you g*y?" I was quiet for a moment and I replied, "Yes". She took it very well as I figured she would, I thought of her as my best friend. Well the very next day I went to highschool and the minute I walked in the door the names started flying. f*g, q***r, HOMO, BROWN EYE, and on and on... I couldn't take it, every day, names and more names being thrown my way. I dropped out of high school. I didn't want to but I could not take the stress of my peers. I got my GED and went to college before ANYONE from my class had graduated. Needless to say the girl is no longer my friend, we really haven't said two words since...

Well I figured if everyone in high school knew it was only DAYS till my parents came out. Keep in mind I told my parents before the "drop out".

I didn't know how to tell them. So I wrote my mother the best piece of litterature I think I ever wrote in my entire life. I was very nervous after I had layed in on the table the night before and had gone to bed. I layed in my bed all day for fear of her reaction. When I finally went down stairs she seemed as if nothign happened. Later that evening she came to me and said.... "your my son, It wouldn't matter what happened to you or even if you would turn into a murderer, I love you for you..... and p.s. I already knew...." she laughed and I laughed and life went on...

My dad didn't take it so well him and I didn't talk for years but now we're ok, and yes I am glad I came out. I don't know how I would be able to live if I couldn't be myself in my own world.

Sorry for the book man but you asked. ha-ha

Answer 9

My brother was in a mental hospital at the time, for an overdose on painkillers.

& my mom was like, "Really, as a family, we need to talk more, & communicate with each other, & tell each other what's on our minds so we can help."

So I figured there was no other time to do it.

I asked to go on a walk with my mom through our neighborhood. For a half hour, I was just like,

"Mom, I need to tell you something, but I don't want you to hate me or anything." Finally, she was just like, "Just TELL ME."

& I was like, "So... I'm kinda... bi."

"Bisexual?" "Yeah..." & then... "Oh, geez, that's what you were worried about? I always suspected it, with the way you go on about g*y rights & everything."

God, it was such a relief, you have no idea. She said I should wait a little while & see though, which I understand, 'cause I'm only fourteen.

I haven't told anyone else in my family, but... apparently my mom has!

At a recent family get-together, my aunt was like, "Well, maybe you'll find another guy... or a girl, to go to homecoming with," (me & my boyfriend had just broken up.) Oh, my mom. -.-

None of my friends know, because I recently went through a big falling-out with a few close friends, & at the moment, it feels like I really can't trust that many "friends". But maybe once I reach high school... who knows?