Coming Out

Resources and advice on coming out gay, lesbian, queer, bisexual, trans, non-binary and/or nothing at all! Essays and how-tos on coming out to yourself, figuring out your identity and more.

dating

‘Am I Queer or Just Repulsed by Straight Norms?’

There is no such thing as being queer “enough.” There is just being queer.

Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya

Oct 7, 2025

coming out

16 Iconic Coming Out Moments to Celebrate on National Coming Out Day

Here’s to the lesbian, bisexual, non-binary, queer, trans and free-ass-motherfucker celebrities who opened the closet door a little wider when they walked out of it.

Heather Hogan —

Oct 11, 2018

coming out

Relearning How To Dress Myself From The Closet I Came Out Of

I feel the need to do something to the outside of my body to mark the tremendous shift I’ve experienced inside — to somehow match my inner self to my…

Katrina —

Apr 5, 2018

coming out

You Need Help: Coming Out When Your Girlfriend Is Amazing but Your Family Super Isn’t

“I feel like I’m lying to my my parents, hiding part of myself, and disrespecting my girlfriend by constantly avoiding mentioning her or referring to her as my friend when…

Rachel —

Dec 20, 2017

coming out

Rosa Diaz’s Big Coming Out on “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” Was Bittersweet — and Specifically Bisexual

Rosa’s full coming out on Brooklyn Nine-Nine is rocky and bittersweet, incorporating uniquely bisexual experiences to cement itself as a uniquely historic TV moment.

Rachel —

Dec 13, 2017

coming out

Y’All Need Help #15: With a Face as Deadpan as the Aubrey Plaza Sea

Checking on your ex, being honest with coworkers, being honest with everyone including yourself, and pulling yourself out of a year-long sad thing! Come help give advice!!

Laneia —

Dec 2, 2017

coming out

Making a Home in the Closet

I was a newly minted queer and everything I knew about queerness was rooted in coming out. I’d heard about the relief that came with coming out from everybody. If…

O.T. Taylor —

Nov 29, 2017

book features

How YA Novels Unexpectedly Enabled My Own Bisexual Revelation

I wonder why the story of a bisexual teenage boy is the one that allowed me to explicitly consider my identity as a bisexual adult woman for the first time.

Jackie Hedeman —

Nov 22, 2017

coming out

29 Slightly Melodramatic Fears and Insecurities of a Baby Dyke

“There aren’t as many hairy, feminist lesbians as I was led to believe.”

Zo Watt —

Nov 21, 2017

Become a Member

Become a Member to support queer journalism

What You Get:

EXCLUSIVE AF+ CONTENT

AD-FREE READING EXPERIENCE

PRINT MAGAZINE DELIVERED QUARTERLY

LEARN MORE

Become a Member

Become a Member to support queer journalism

EXCLUSIVE AF+ CONTENT

AD-FREE READING EXPERIENCE

PRINT MAGAZINE DELIVERED QUARTERLY

LEARN MORE

Don’t want to see ads? Join AF+

Account

About Autostraddle

Coming Out

dating

‘Am I Queer or Just Repulsed by Straight Norms?’

16 Iconic Coming Out Moments to Celebrate on National Coming Out Day

Relearning How To Dress Myself From The Closet I Came Out Of

You Need Help: Coming Out When Your Girlfriend Is Amazing but Your Family Super Isn’t

Rosa Diaz’s Big Coming Out on “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” Was Bittersweet — and Specifically Bisexual

Y’All Need Help #15: With a Face as Deadpan as the Aubrey Plaza Sea

Making a Home in the Closet

How YA Novels Unexpectedly Enabled My Own Bisexual Revelation

29 Slightly Melodramatic Fears and Insecurities of a Baby Dyke

Become a Member

What You Get:

Become a Member

Account Account

Coming Out

dating

‘Am I Queer or Just Repulsed by Straight Norms?’

Become a Member

What You Get:

Become a Member

Account