If you were a member of the LGBTQ community in previous decades, you likely went through immense difficulty accepting your own identity, let alone telling other people about it. Back then, homosexuality was largely frowned upon, and coming out was often met with negativity.
Nowadays, society is generally more accepting and less judgmental. It is likely why many people are more at ease opening up about their true selves.
Some of them shared their pleasant experiences in this Reddit thread, and here are some of the most popular replies.
#21
Guy I know at college started kind of hitting on me. In my head I was like “ohhh here we go “. I took a deep breath and told him I was ace. Turns out his sister is ace. He backed off, and started asking respectful questions. From discussing my asexuality we moved into talking about dating and being single in general. He still acts a little flirty with me from time to time and I find him kind of annoying , but I was pleasantly surprised at how respectful and kind he was when I came out to him.
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57points
#22
My sister’s girlfriend just said “welcome to the club.”.
56points
#23
I have so many.
My first coming out was to a new family doctor. She was reading through my file, asked about my depression. I gave the usual reasons, lousy job, few friends, then because I was incredibly sleep deprived I blurted out gender dysphoria, realized what I said, and had a panic attack so hard I passed out. When I recovered her response was just "okay then, I'm putting you on all three psychiatrist referral lists." and that was the moment I decided I was going to transition.
I came out to my closest friend a few hours later, while I was still a nervous wreck from realizing I was finally doing this after twenty plus years of wanting it, and when I finally told him he laughed, "Wait, that's it? I was worried it was something serious!" and gave me so much comfort.
---
When I came out to my brother, he was super quiet to the point where it scared me, then whispered "Well... That explains... A Lot." And gave me rare hugs. He's the best, even if he lives 3 hours away I feel closer to him than I have in a decade.
First few times I tried to talk to mum about being trans, I got laughed at and rediculed.
At this point, pretty much everyone but my dad knows. When I get an endocrinologist appointment, I ask my brother to drive me over. From what I pieced together later, brother told mum that I was going with him to the endo, she misunderstood and thought the appointment was for him, and so told dad about it, then he goes and asks brother what's going on. Brother explains that he should be asking me, so late at night when I'm already preparing to go to bed, dad barges in and goes "SO WHAT'S AN ENDOCRINOLOGIST?" scaring me half to death. By all the fortunes of the world, he actually accepted me begging not to talk about it now and backed off before I completely melted down. I then spent an all-nighter writing an elaborate letter to him about my dysphoria, my new name and pronouns, and that I'm transitioning even if it means being disowned because not transitioning has been k*****g me. He takes the letter I left on his desk and vanishes that morning on a week long business trip with no contact, leaving me a nervous wreck. When he gets back, his only remark is that's okay, do what makes you happy.
Rather ironic and that's the complete opposite of what I had expected from parents and brother, considering how as a kid, Mum constantly threatened to braid my hair or paint my nails if I didn't keep them short and regularly griped that I should have been a girl, while dad was always complaining how I had none of the usual guy interests, and me and brother were constantly pushed into an incredibly adversarial relationship because of the toxic levels of 'fairness' parents enforced, eg. not being able to go out with friends alone if brother didn't have his own thing to do, or have my own computer until they thought he was ready.
---
When I was still only occasionally girlmode in private, about 6 months on HRT, mum's friend came over without warning and found me making lunch in a skirt and nail polish, and considering she's a church leader originally from Texas, I was terrified, but held my cool when she said "that's a new outfit." and I managed to get out that yes, it's new because I'm transitioning, please call me Samantha. She was extremely accepting, and the only thing she asked was if I should be called it just when dressed up like that, or all the time, and I explained always, it's a brain thing, not a clothing thing.
And that was the day I went full time girl mode.
My first coming out was to a new family doctor. She was reading through my file, asked about my depression. I gave the usual reasons, lousy job, few friends, then because I was incredibly sleep deprived I blurted out gender dysphoria, realized what I said, and had a panic attack so hard I passed out. When I recovered her response was just "okay then, I'm putting you on all three psychiatrist referral lists." and that was the moment I decided I was going to transition.
I came out to my closest friend a few hours later, while I was still a nervous wreck from realizing I was finally doing this after twenty plus years of wanting it, and when I finally told him he laughed, "Wait, that's it? I was worried it was something serious!" and gave me so much comfort.
---
When I came out to my brother, he was super quiet to the point where it scared me, then whispered "Well... That explains... A Lot." And gave me rare hugs. He's the best, even if he lives 3 hours away I feel closer to him than I have in a decade.
First few times I tried to talk to mum about being trans, I got laughed at and rediculed.
At this point, pretty much everyone but my dad knows. When I get an endocrinologist appointment, I ask my brother to drive me over. From what I pieced together later, brother told mum that I was going with him to the endo, she misunderstood and thought the appointment was for him, and so told dad about it, then he goes and asks brother what's going on. Brother explains that he should be asking me, so late at night when I'm already preparing to go to bed, dad barges in and goes "SO WHAT'S AN ENDOCRINOLOGIST?" scaring me half to death. By all the fortunes of the world, he actually accepted me begging not to talk about it now and backed off before I completely melted down. I then spent an all-nighter writing an elaborate letter to him about my dysphoria, my new name and pronouns, and that I'm transitioning even if it means being disowned because not transitioning has been k*****g me. He takes the letter I left on his desk and vanishes that morning on a week long business trip with no contact, leaving me a nervous wreck. When he gets back, his only remark is that's okay, do what makes you happy.
Rather ironic and that's the complete opposite of what I had expected from parents and brother, considering how as a kid, Mum constantly threatened to braid my hair or paint my nails if I didn't keep them short and regularly griped that I should have been a girl, while dad was always complaining how I had none of the usual guy interests, and me and brother were constantly pushed into an incredibly adversarial relationship because of the toxic levels of 'fairness' parents enforced, eg. not being able to go out with friends alone if brother didn't have his own thing to do, or have my own computer until they thought he was ready.
---
When I was still only occasionally girlmode in private, about 6 months on HRT, mum's friend came over without warning and found me making lunch in a skirt and nail polish, and considering she's a church leader originally from Texas, I was terrified, but held my cool when she said "that's a new outfit." and I managed to get out that yes, it's new because I'm transitioning, please call me Samantha. She was extremely accepting, and the only thing she asked was if I should be called it just when dressed up like that, or all the time, and I explained always, it's a brain thing, not a clothing thing.
And that was the day I went full time girl mode.
52points
#24
My mom said "thats fine, honey." And everything proceeded to be fine.
49points
#25
“So long as you’re happy, I’m happy… you gotta admit, it’s kinda weird though… I mean, BOTH of you?!”
“Yep, both of us.”
“So what do I call you now? And are we still gonna play video games together? And watch Mandalorian and stuff?”
“Yep.”
“Okay!”
My husband and I both came out as trans (in my defense, he started it!) and we have a young teen. Our kid is amused but happy for us. I’m now mom, my husband is now dad, and things are good. We were worried it would be hard on our kid, but we spent far more time preparing than our kid did adjusting. We’ve been attentive to any concerns, but so far our kid is happy and moving right along in life.
“Yep, both of us.”
“So what do I call you now? And are we still gonna play video games together? And watch Mandalorian and stuff?”
“Yep.”
“Okay!”
My husband and I both came out as trans (in my defense, he started it!) and we have a young teen. Our kid is amused but happy for us. I’m now mom, my husband is now dad, and things are good. We were worried it would be hard on our kid, but we spent far more time preparing than our kid did adjusting. We’ve been attentive to any concerns, but so far our kid is happy and moving right along in life.
46points
#26
My dad lmao very recently asked if I was a lesbian (I previously said bi few years ago but he noticed I clearly don’t like men) and was like OMG we got a family lesbian 🥳🥳🤩🥳🥳 with a big smile.
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44points
#27
I told my brother who is 3 years under me that I was bi and his response was "okay. And? What do you want me to do about it?" Which confused me enough to stop the stress of telling him. I still laugh thinking about it.
I told the younger boys (also my brothers) that I also liked women once they got a little bit older and the younger one who was 12 at the time said "that's gay" and then high fived the older one who was 14 and I just rolled eyes and asked if they had any questions lol.
So you know. Brothers are always interesting.
I did the same thing to my step sister though when she came out as bi. I yelled "same" and high fived her lol. It made her laugh and hopefully stopped her stressing so much.
I told the younger boys (also my brothers) that I also liked women once they got a little bit older and the younger one who was 12 at the time said "that's gay" and then high fived the older one who was 14 and I just rolled eyes and asked if they had any questions lol.
So you know. Brothers are always interesting.
I did the same thing to my step sister though when she came out as bi. I yelled "same" and high fived her lol. It made her laugh and hopefully stopped her stressing so much.
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43points
#28
When I came out as lesbian to my dad (didn't know I was actually trans back then):
sent him ''girls'' by girl in red while sitting in the same room
''What are you saying with that?''
''I like girls''
''Ok.... Do the girls like you back?''
''I hope so xd''.
sent him ''girls'' by girl in red while sitting in the same room
''What are you saying with that?''
''I like girls''
''Ok.... Do the girls like you back?''
''I hope so xd''.
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42points
#29
My brother said "ok, so we both have the same opinion on b***s. nice." and now he's started sending pics of anime waifus and asking me to rate them 1-10.
36points
#30
In my friend group we never had to come out, we just *are*. I have a friend that is, like, super bi, and I am too, but we never had to *come out*, we would just talk about a girl, or a guy, or a non-binary pal and that's it, no one questions it.
I've heard it's kind of a dream for some people here haha, and I really love them for that. I guess the new generations are more accepting now a days.
I've heard it's kind of a dream for some people here haha, and I really love them for that. I guess the new generations are more accepting now a days.
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31points