12 Coming Out Stories from the Bellesa Community

We asked the Bellesa Community to share their coming out stories in honor of Pride Month. Here are some of your stories! 

1. "I came out as bi to a friend in HS and I was freaking out about it because I was dating a guy and I didn’t want him to break up with me over it. My friend convinced me to tell him and he told me that it’s okay and he already kinda guessed it lmaooo. We’re married now 💖"

2. "My dad said “I don’t care who you date as long as you keep your car clean” spoiler- it still isn’t clean and I’m still gay."

3. "I came out as a trans guy to my parents at 14 and it didn’t go ideally lol… No, they didn’t scream at me or kick me out or anything, but they were extremely confused n distressed and my mom was crying. It was within the following couple weeks of them witnessing my depression and suicidal thoughts increasing that they eventually came around and accepted me. It took some getting used to ofc, but soon enough they were calling me by my new name and he/him pronouns :) I started testosterone at 16, got top surgery at 18, and I’m getting a hysterectomy later this year!! i will say most of my relatives level of support is uh… Debatable at best, but idc anymore really. I’ve been living my life happily as a gay man for going on 8 years now with support from my parents, sister, and one set of grandparents, and thats really what matters to me at the end of the day :)"

4. "I wrote a note to my mom in a southern Baptist church. She wrote back 'ok'"

5. "My sister said 'sooo what’s your like, official sexuality..?' And I said 'oh, I’m bisexual. I didn’t realize I had to say it, it seemed obvious' and she goes 'it was, that’s why I asked' 😂"

6. On thanksgiving my grandma asked me if I had a boyfriend and my drunk cousin shouted “she’s gay you idiot.”

7. "2019, age 43 came out as pansexual. 2023, age 47, came out as nonbinary! I’m going my own pace! ❤️❤️"

8. "Back in the early days of the internet (in 2000), sometimes email servers went down. When that happened in a home network, all emails were sent to the master email address. All emails from my secret girlfriend, that is… to my conservative parents’ emails. I was outed to parents who weren’t accepting— it *almost* destroyed me, but my friends saved me. My chosen family, my husband, my furry companions, art, books, music, love, grief… they all saved me over and over. The thing I learned most from being outed was the stuff that happened AFTER. My life became immeasurably better when I stopped hiding and started owning myself. Has it been perfect? No. Has it been one hell of a ride? …. Oh f-ck yes. Be yourself, trust that your family will find you if your bio family isn’t what you need them to be. Continue to exist, you are needed here more than you know. ❤️🏳️‍🌈💜💙"

9. "Wrote a letter to my parents and balled my eyes out as they read it. My dad gave me a big hug and asked me if I liked Cherry Chapstick (referencing Katie Perry’s song). 😆🏳️‍🌈❤️"

10. "My big sister was doing my hair while I told her about a friend who was pansexual and what that meant and she asked 'are you?' I hesitated for a sec (we were raised heavily catholic) and said 'no…' and she asked 'are you anything else?' And I said '…maybe bi, I don’t know'. Kinda was nervous as my hair was actively in her hands and she just hummed and said 'that’s alright. Not everyone knows'."

11. "I called my stepmom and was nervous about how she would react, and I said 'Well I think I’m Bi.' And she replied 'NOW WAY ME TOO!' And it was soooo validating and wonderful. The best reaction I could ask for from a parent :)"

12. "I made a cake that read 'surprise i’m gay!' 🎂🏳️‍🌈"