As we recognize #lgbthistory Month, #comingout for me was a very interesting experience. I decided to write my parents a note and did not want them to talk about it with me until the next day. At the point that I decided that I needed to come out. I was confident in who I was and who I want it to be. when my parents ended up looking at the letter my mom was more worried because I identify as #pansexual and she did not completely know what that was and she was just used to people saying that they were #gay, #lesbian, #bisexual, and #transgender.

My mother worried for my mental health because at the time and still today we’re still dealing with some homophobia. My dad mostly agreed with my mom but really had no words to describe of how he felt.  my story is a very unique but simple story and I understand that others go through different issues of coming out, but I always remind people when I tell my story that there is always Support that is out there when you’re ready to tell your story. 

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Stephon Camp

They/Them He/Him

Louisville, KY

Youth Activist Alliance

as soon as i turned 14, i spent that entire year figuring stuff out. i knew that my mother was not going to be NOT accepting but i just didn’t know how to approach it. i had never said it out loud.

it was the summer before high school and i was like i need to come out because i’m not going to be closeted in high school, i wanna be myself.

i told my sister in march 2018 after we saw “love, simon.” i told my mother may 15, 2018.

that morning i woke up and was like “i’m gonna tell her today.” she was at work and i couldn’t wait until she got home. so i thought it was easier to tell her through text so she could read when she was alone. i remember her texting back, “i love you and are you ok?” that was because in middle school, i was teased a lot. my mother and i have always been close. she is even more protective now. 

when i got the steps of the school, i told my friends that i came out to my mother and started to cry. i felt free.