For this Coming Out Day we are sharing stories of young people coming out to family and friends. This selection covers a number of identities and sexualities which really shows the positivity many young people are met with when coming out. We appreciate that not all experiences of coming out are positive and coming out isn't a one time thing, but coming out is something many need to do on a daily basis.
"My dad had used some slightly offensive gay jokes in the past, so I was afraid he would react badly to me coming out as trans. I decided to write him a letter. I put it under his pillow, so he could read it before he slept and work out his thoughts properly. The next day, he just acted like normal. He asked me what name I wanted to go by and gave me some suggestions of what he thought might work. I am still glad I came out through letter though, just in case."
"I didn't know my mum was unaware that I was bi, so I casually brought it up in conversation while talking about someone at school. I guess she didn't know, so she was really surprised but then she also out as bisexual to me."
"I first came out to my high school music teacher towards the end of a very tough year. I'd been struggling a lot with my work because I was worrying so much, and she was the one teacher I felt had my back when my grades were slipping. After this, I fount it a little easier to talk to my friends about it. I lost some friends because it made them uncomfortable, but in many ways, it improved my friendships and closeness with others because I didn't feel like I was hiding anymore. I told my mom when my dad was working abroad, and she didn't seem to believe it was more than just a phase. A couple of years later, I told them both after I had been with my first boyfriend for a while. I'm lucky that my parents are open minded people; most of my extended family still don't know. To be honest, they don't have to. My stance is that the important people in my life know and support me."
"I said to my best friend "I think I might be gay" and after a second, she replied "same". "
"This isn't so much a story of me coming out to a friend, more as me coming out to myself at the time. It was several years ago and I'd known I wasn't cis for a couple of years. I identify as non-binary, yet hadn't had the guts to ask anyone to treat me how I'd feel more comfortable. Then I met some online friends - an author and his significant other - and it was the first time someone asked my pronouns. Something had always felt scary and permanent about changing the pronouns I used, but at that point something about these wonderful people made me unashamedly myself. 'Oh, they/them' I replied, casually, with my heart suddenly racing. I knew they'd accept me, but would I accept myself? They called me using 'they' for the rest of their visit. It felt amazing, it felt like me. After then I asked friends to call me 'they' and it made it exponentially more comfortable."
We have gathered these stories from a blog posted by LGBT Youth Scotland, a national youth charity working with 13-25 year olds across Scotland. They offer a number of youth groups as well an online chat service 6-8pm Monday, Wednesdays and Thursdays. You can find more information about LGBT Youth Scotland here
As well as offering a chat service, LGBT Youth Scotland have also produced really useful 'Coming Out' guides. There's one for LGB and one for T. They are available here. If you are interested in joining the Edinburgh College LGBT society you can find them on Facebook via this link or get in touch on contact@ecsa.scot to show your interest and we'll get in touch.