13 Coming Out Stories from the Bellesa Community

In celebration of Pride Month, we invited members of the Bellesa community to share their tales of coming out. Some of your stories are shown here!

1. "I became aware that I had exceeded quarantine." I surprised my family by bringing a cake that read, "Surprise, I'm bi."

2. "My husband and I were watching Quantico when I came out as pansexual. Although I had previously dismissed my attraction to women as a passing phase, Priyanka Chopra, tho Since my spouse works in the LGBTQ community, we frequently discuss such topics. I informed him I believed I was pansexual during a commercial break. We gave each other a high five and returned to the program after he told me he had been thinking he was, too. I was reminded of how welcoming and caring children can be when I came out to my niece. When she reached that age, she began to inquire after noticing that her peers had two mothers or two fathers. I expressed my preference for both boys and girls in a straightforward manner, but I also enjoy some people who don't identify as either gender. We gave each other high fives after she listened, nodded, and said, "Cool." Nearly every one of my coming-out tales concludes with a high five.

3. "I came out to my (then) boyfriend after two years of being in a heterosexual relationship. He began to cry because he thought I was ending our relationship, but it was just an update, sweetie.

4. "In the midst of it after being married to a man for more than 15 years." I have never felt more lively in my life!

5. I became aware that I wasn't straight when I was eight years old, but I didn't have the vocabulary to consider my identity at the time; instead, I just assumed that I was "different." I didn't start accepting my sexuality until I was around fifteen years old. I first came out to my online pals, then to my twin sister, and finally to a few close friends at a school camp. The year after I came out as bi, I came to terms with the fact that I was a lesbian. At first, I suppose this worried me, but now I love loving women and men, and it's one of my favourite things about myself! Since "lesbian" implies "non-men who love non-men," it truly captures my identity as I also identify as non-binary! I know my parents will accept me, but I'm still struggling to have the guts to tell them I'm gay. I'm scared about my grandparents, but whatever.

6. "My mom walked out of the room and exclaimed, 'Steve, she finally did it!'"

7. "While doing the dishes, I disclosed to my mother that I am bisexual. "Yeah, me too," she answered with a simple smile.

8. During Pride Month last year, my mom purchased a pride flag and showed me how thrilled she was to display it for the neighbourhood to see. She said it might be to honour a few different LGBT people she knew, and I responded that it might be to celebrate me! I then revealed to her that I'm bisexual. It was a pretty healthy experience. After that, she was even more pleased to hang it outside our home!

9. "Last year, I came out as bisexual." I haven't told anyone, yet it feels lovely to admit it.

10. I sobbed as I called my mother after my first girlfriend ended our relationship.

I detested being unable to tell my mother when I was happy, which was depressing. Fortunately, the story has a happy ending since we reunited a week later and have remained together ever since.

11. "Dated people of all genders without ever 'coming out.'"

12. "When I was sixteen, I came out to my parents as pansexual." I was told that I was "going through a phase" and that there was a straight and gay person. We didn't communicate for the remainder of the year, and my mother's stress from my coming out ultimately led to Bell's palsy. I also had to say I was sorry for making her anxious. A debate over my lack of trust in my parents arose four years later. When I informed them that I no longer trusted them or shared personal information with them after coming out, my mother said, "You're still on about that?!?" We then stopped communicating for perhaps four to five months. They are still not accepting of it today, and I want everyone to know that coming out should not be a source of fear. Having it off your chest and living as authentically as possible can be liberating, but it can also be frightening and require a lot of bravery. You are loved and supported by a whole queer and ally community. I adore you all!

13. "I told my parents that as long as they aren't jerks, we don't care who they are."

We wish you all the best possible communities that accept you and let you be who you are, regardless of how humorous, poignant, or untold your coming-out experience is. Cheers to Pride!