What does coming out mean?

Coming out just means telling someone that you are LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/ questioning and others). People come out for all different reasons, but mostly people just want to be honest about who they are, especially with the people they love.

Coming out can be hard, and you might feel scared, excited, worried, relieved or confused – maybe all at once!

You shouldn’t feel rushed or pressured into it. There isn’t a right or wrong way or time to do it. It’s different for everyone. The right time is when it feels right for you.

It’s also completely up to you who you tell and when. For example, you might want to tell your friends, but you might not be ready to tell your family. Or you might want to tell your mum and dad, but you don’t want people at college or work to know just yet. That’s fine.

If you’re not ready to come out, check out the RUComingOut website. It’s designed for LGBTQ+ people who aren’t out yet, and it’s full of stories and support from other people who’ve been through, or are still going through the process of coming out.

If you’re thinking about coming out, this guide from Stonewall could help answer some of your questions. This article on The Site has some great tips on coming out too.