One of the most important parts of being part of the LGBTQ+ community is coming out of the closet. Whether this is telling your family, telling your friends, or telling a random stranger, it can be incredibly nerve racking.

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First of all, choosing if you even want to come out can be a hard decision. Depending on the person you want to come out to, they could have a negative reaction to your identity while others will be completely supportive of you. Figuring out how they will react is a good way to determine if you should come out to them. If they seem against your identity it might be a good idea to not come out to them. 

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For actually coming out you could simply just tell them, or do something more creative. I’ve seen so many options for ways to come out and this article by Sarah Karlan and Jessica Probus includes some incredible options: 41 Awesome Ways to Come Out to Your Friends and Family. 

Dealing with the nerves was one of the hardest things for me when coming out. Just take a deep breath and go for it. And if you end up having a mental breakdown, that’s completely fine, take a break and try again. 

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If you come out to someone and it doesn’t go well, just remember that you know who you are and no one can take that away from you. There are also resources available for you if you truly need help. 

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I really hope this article helped at least some of you. If you have a more specific question about coming out, please consider posting it on our Forum where other LGBTQ+ community members can help you out.