My Coming Out
The basics
Recognizing, understanding and accepting your sexual orientation and/or gender identity is a very important part of coming out. If you aren’t sure, that’s ok. You might question your gender identity, your sexual orientation, or even both at the same time.
No one knows for sure what makes a person lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) or straight. There are many theories (biology, environment, personal experiences, etc.) but there isn’t just one cause. No matter the reason, all orientations and identities are normal. It’s part of who we are! And most importantly, no one "chooses" to be LGBT!
Welcome
Sharing a big part of who you are with other people can be exciting and tough. There are so many things to think about: Who do I tell? When should I tell them? What will they say? What if I’m not sure? … Should I come out?
“Coming Out” means sharing your sexual orientation and/or your gender identity with people in your life. Everyone’s coming out process is unique, shaped by their comfort level, the safety of their environment and how ready they feel. After thinking it through you may decide not to come out – and that’s ok too. Many people choose not to for different reasons.
Read about coming out in our guidelines
