Hey All,
Was just wondering, how old were you when you came out and how was the experience. I myself was 15 and the experience was an emotional roler coaster. I can say that I didn't find happiness until about two years later when I found The Boston Alliance of Gay and Lesbian Youth (BAGLY). Once there I started accepting myself and seeing myself in a whole new light. So has anyone else had the same or similar experience? If not, what was yours like?
Thanks,
Rachel

I came out last year when I was 18 as being both FtM and gay. First I came out to my best friend who I've dated off and on, and he was completely supportive. It made sense to him since he'd always seen me as more of a guy anyway, and he's been helping me with some of the "gayer" stuff because I was born without the whole hair/clothes/dancing gene. He's just been awesome.

A few months later I came out to my parents, and to be honest it could've been a lot better than it was. My folks didn't seem to understand the idea of wanting to be physically male and at the same time liking guys. To them, I could either be straight, a lesbian or a FtM, not a gay FtM (otherwise "why not just stay a girl?"). On top of that, they went making some ridiculous connections between me and my lesbian aunt who happens to be schizophrenic and has the belief that she's the Second Coming.

Lately it's gotten a lot better, though, at least as far as my dad's concerned. He's said that he can see me as his son, occasionally uses male pronouns when talking about me and asks me to do more work around the house that he never has when he treated me like a girl. Of course, he still holds on to the hope that there's some pill or something that'll make me happy as a woman because he mistakingly thinks that an easier life is a happier one, but that seems to just be the last throes of his resistance.

Overall things have been getting a little easier because my campus has a great LGBT organization that I've become a part of and it's like a huge family. There's even another t-boy so it's not like I'm completely alone (although he's straight). Me, him and a lesbian couple are going to be sharing an apartment next year.

Cameron

Hello. My experience coming out is rather complicated.

I'll say this, I've been gay ever since I can remember - even when I was a young lad, not even in my teens yet. I've always been attracted to guys. I didn't start dating guys until I was in high school - my sophmore year, I was 16.

When I was 16, I came out to my parents. Not sure what they were to do, they put me in counseling which didn't help. Since then, i've never tried coming out again until April 17, at the age of 20, I came out to my parents. Well, not really but here's how it goes.

I've been seeing a guy, a friend of my sisters, and on that day, my sister asked me mom while I was hanging out with him out of the house. She asked "What would you do if you had a gay son?" My sister said she responded, "I'd love him no different than I love him now." My dad, being the normal dad, was trying to deny it but my sister said my mom shook her head at him.

That night, I laid on my sisters bed for a while just talking to her. I kind of got a bit choked up due to her telling me all of this but my sister always knew. And I wasn't going to deny being gay. So i've been out since then. I didn't officially come out until the next day when I confronted my mom about it and sent her a couple websites about Christian families accepting gay sons and daughters. That helped my mom realize more about my story and my high school struggles.

I haven't really confronted my dad about me being gay but i've tried a couple times when playing basketball and golf. I think that time is nearing and i'll be ready. He knows i'm gay, he just needs to realize that it's true.

I always knew but didn't allow myself to admit it until about 4 months ago. I dated in high school and I told my ex-boyfriend, who is still a really good friend, and he said he always knew. I guess I really knew in about third grade, at least that I was different. I denied it and tried dating guys but it usually ended with me breaking up with them. In the past four months, I have came out to good friends but I still have the challenge of telling my parents. That will be the most difficult because a) they're my parents and b) they've already kinda asked me but they would have totally freaked and sent me to "therapy" if I had said yes. So, that's where I'm at.

hello i came out when i was 15 which was last year...i came out to my bestfriend first and after that everything was going up and down...i was soo confused and i still wasnt quiet sure what i should do...pretty much all my friends kno and they are all pretty excepting...but when my parents found out they freaked or my dad freaked and was like "why?we didnt raise you to be this way." and well after that he kinda didnt really trust me...b/c they found out that i was dating my bestfriend they wouldnt llet me talk to her or anything which really sucked...but my parents kno but they just dont acknoledge it...and the same for some of my friends...

Well, mine wasn't the best, but that was mostly my fault. I came out to my mom while she was doing the laundry, and that didn't go as badly as it could have. Sha basiclly said, "Well, then, life is going to be very hard for you" and was quiet for a while. And then I told my dad in therapy and he freaked out and started saying that it was all a phase and I was doing it for attention, and all that other stuff. Other then that, though, I'd have to say that my experiaces went as well as possible.