Happy National Coming out day!

Amber&Reva

Why not tell the story of how we all came out in honor of the day as well as what if anything has changed the most for you or for our country since you have come out.

Amber&Reva

My ex-girlfriend actually came out for me to my little sister.  We were all at a party and she just walked up to my sister and said so Amber and I are together.  I didn't come out to my mom until I met R.  The odd part is my ex-girlfriend actually pretty much lived at our house and despite the fact that we had a spare bedroom shared my room with my full sized bed and my mother had no idea.

I finally came out to my mother after being with R for almost a year because unlike previous relationships I knew that this one was serious and that I owed it to R to be open with my family.  I wrote my mother a letter basically letting her know that I was happy and that is all that should matter.  Of course it wasn't she called my sister asked if she knew and in tears said that this was all just a stage.  Which still is her feelings because after R and I first got pregnant I told my mom and she started crying saying she never wanted me to be a single mother.  She tries and actually has introduced R as my partner at least once! (big step for her)

As far as a nation I saw a map on Facebook showing the states that allow gay marriage, the states that a trial is pending, the states that a decision is pending and all but 4 states fell into one of those categories'!!! Not to mention more then half the states now recognize same sex marriage!!!

mallory4284

I didn't really come out until I was 24 (?). I became best friends with a coworker at the time who was a closet lesbian. (She was only out to her girlfriend and very close friends) And after hanging out with her and her friends, I kind of just realized I liked girls, too....

Then, I kinda just nonchalantly mentioned it in a conversation to my mom. I was venting to my mom about said "best friend" (we're not friends anymore) and how she kept her girlfriend at the time a "secret" from me because she knew I had a semi-crush on her when we were all just friends. She had broken up with her girlfriend and started seeing this girl "behind my back" because she didn't want to make me mad.....

Anyway, so as I was telling that story I was just kinda like, "blah blah blah, I had a crush on so-and-so (pause), blah blah blah...."

My parents are very open and I never in a million years had to worry about "coming out" to them. When we moved to Indiana they ended up with a lot of gay/lesbian friends, so I essentially grew up knowing their stance on the subject. And I knew they would have no problems with me being a lesbian. And I love that about them!

My extended family I never officially told until J proposed to me.... So about a year and a half into our relationship....Only because i didn't know how they would react. But they've all been really cool about it.

KH826

The first time I ever came out to anyone was May of my senior year of high school (2002). I was 18. I blurted out "I think I'm gay" to two friends and my drama teacher in my drama teacher's office while we were working on a project during study hall. To this day I still don't know why I said that at that moment - it was totally not premeditated. Afterwards I walked around school for a week feeling like I was going to throw up. I had a follow up conversation with one of those friends a week later and said "any chance I can just take that back?" ... His response was "if you are, then no." I said "oh crap." And that was that haha.

Over the summer after graduation I told 3 more friends ... Sort of testing the waters, I guess...

I went away to college and from day one I was out, and it was amazing. I suddenly had this new life where I didn't feel like I was about to throw up all the time and I didn't have to explain or worry what anyone thought. College was my happy place.

I came out to my mom over the phone in October of 2002 - my freshman year of college. By 2003 I don't think there is anyone in my life who didn't know.

The world has changed a lot in 12 years. Back when I first came out, there was no same-sex marriage in the US. I used to think I would never see it in my lifetime. I am so glad my teenaged self was wrong.