Name or Nick Name : Amy
Country or City you are from: : Los Angeles
Your Age : 24
Your Gender : Whoa-man!
What did you come out as? : Bi
What other words would you use to describe yourself? : Quirky, Witty, Lazy, Funny, Friendly
How old were you when you first realised your identity? : 15
How old were you when you first told someone? : 22
Did you plan it? If so, how? : Not exactly. I had a first date with a chick and lied about it to my best friend. I said I went out with a dude. Later, she told me I was lying about something and she didn't know what.
What made you choose that person to tell? : She has been my best friend for over ten years. I trust her completely.
Can you remember exactly what you said? : I texted her that she was right. I went on a date, but the date was a girl!
How did you feel? : Exhilarated- It was like I had just opened a new chapter in my life!
What was the person’s reaction? : She was surprised. Definitely surprised.
What did they say? : She wanted to know all the details that got me to the place of dating women, how I felt, what I was going to do, who I was going to tell, etc.
What was your relationship with the person like afterwards? : Perfect. She went to gay bars with me and treated my girlfriend like she would any significant other.
What’s it like now? : It's hard being out to my family. They aren't supportive and still think that at 24, I'm going thru a phase. I am saddened by their embarassment.
If you’ve been outed unwillingly, who did it? : Sort of. My mom and I were at lunch. She asked if there were any new boys in my life. After I shook my head, she asked me if there were any girls in my life.
What happened? : I asked why she would ask me something like that, stuttered, and then I spilled my guts.
If you’ve experienced homophobia etc, please give an example. : Other than longer-than-usual looks, I've been very lucky.
Since coming out how out are you at school? : not_applicable
Since coming out, how “out” are you at work? : only_friends
Since coming out, how “out” are you with family? : all_out
Since coming out, how “out” are you with your friends? : all_out
What does being out mean to you? : Freedom.
What differences, if any, did your cultural background make to your experience of coming out? : I think I waited so long because my parents are very Christian and didn't know how they would react to the news.
What does the concept of the closet mean to you? : It's too dark in there. No thanks.
What advice would you give someone wanting to come out? : Wait until you're stable, and start small.
If you could do it all again, would you do it any differently? If so, how? : I would have confessed years earlier and would have tried to do a better job of easing my family into it.
Anything you want to add? : I'm excited for what is in store!