“A black-and-white shot of a woman putting a finger over her lips in a gesture of silence” by Kristina Flour on Unsplash

Coming out is one of the most stressful parts of being gay, lesbian, trans, etc. Here are 5 things that I found helpful when coming out.

1. Be Confident

The biggest aspect of coming out is being able to resit negative feedback from your peers and family.

When you have looked deep inside yourself and figured out who you really are it’s okay to be proud of it. However, there are a lot of people out there who will stand in your way of being you. Keep your head held high and don’t back down.

2. Have Backup

Before coming out to everyone, or those you are unsure will accept who you are, make sure you’ve got an army of close friends and family standing behind you.

One of the biggest things that’s helped me in my transition is having this army of supporters who are there for me when I run into people who don’t accept me.

Not everyone has the luxury of having people they can go to for support. If you find it hard to trust in those around you, find support groups in your area, or online. When I first started accepting that I was transgender it helped to connect with other people like me through Reddit, Discord, and Facebook groups.

3. Remember, You Don’t Need Their Approval

At the end of the day, you are who you are. Don’t let others determine how you express your self.

A lot of times, we look to our parents for approval of who we are becoming. Sometimes, our parents will reject who we are. You have to accept that this might happen, and be able to move on. Don’t let them shape your life.

4. Do You

At the end of the day, the most important thing is your own happiness. Do what makes you happy.

5. Write a Letter (Text/Email)

If you have someone you need to come out to, but you are concerned about your safety (emotional/physical). Write them a letter and explain what you are going through.

I had to do this with members of my family who I felt would not be very accepting. It serves as a good barrier, and gives the person time to process the message before responding.

Conclusion

The world is a scary place. Full of ignorance and hate. In my experience, there is lots of love and compassion for fellow human beings. If you’ve had a bad experience coming out, I hope the person comes around and learns to be accepting.

Leave a comment below about an experience you’ve had coming out.

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