People are sharing their emotional, moving and sometimes hilarious stories for National Coming Out Day

From an aunt bragging about her “gaydar” but couldn’t tell her niece was gay to an accidental Snapchat sent to their parents – people on Twitter have been sharing their coming out stories for National Coming Out Day.

The adorable Twitter thread has tallied more than 1,600 replies in just a few days, as LGBT+ folk open up about all the moving (and messy) ways they told people about their sexual identity.

tell your coming out story: pic.twitter.com/ucqDaN2ECI

— Yella Enchanted (@ChantFarrar) October 7, 2019

A large majority of them highlight a simple truth worth remembering on National Coming Out Day – that coming out can be clunky and embarrassing in the moment but hilarious looking back:

My aunt who I had lived with for two YEARS was bragging about her ~gaydar~ being on point and how she “can always tell” and I said “I don’t think so” and she said “why not” and I said “cuz I’m gay” and she was like: pic.twitter.com/qcDuUfbesd
— rachel (@racheywolfe) October 8, 2019

I was at Outback Steakhouse with my family for my 16th birthday and while we were all tearing up that fuk'n Bloomin' Onion I told them, "By the way, I like sucking dicks."

I got another Bloomin' Onion and a very dick-shaped New York Strip steak. https://t.co/3XcSyHqjGW— ❄️? ? (@FreezePeachWulf) October 10, 2019

Or anyone’s greatest fear – sending a Snapchat accidentally to a parent:

I accidentally my snapchatted my parents that I was the hottest gay guy at the this party (jokingly, I was the only gay guy), I was so hungover the next day when I FaceTimed them and told them properly ??? a mess
— Jake? (@jakesawe) October 8, 2019

‘Sat on the kitchen counter and blurted out “I think I like men” to my girlfriend of 5 years.’

Alongside how coming out can be a way to show off your creativity. Bonus marks for this:

Came out to my best friend by handing her a periodic table and telling her I had 83 protons(Bi) and came out to everyone else(friends, family, teachers) when I started dating her ~2 weeks later

— Lauren♥️ (@Lauren_0423) October 7, 2019

Or a time for dads to out-dad themselves when their son comes out as gay:

Me: I’m gay.
Dad: Did you buy it from the shop?
Me: What?
Dad: Did you go to the shop and buy some gay today?
Me: Erm, No!?!?
Dad: So, you’re telling me, you didnt choose it, didn’t buy it and you’re still the same person you’ve always been?
Me: Yes.
Dad: That’s fine then.
Me: ?
— ΝΞΙL M (@kneelem) October 9, 2019

At least he didn’t reply with: “Hi gay, I’m dad.” But he wasn’t the only family member to see the light-hearted side of the situation:

Me: "I'm pansexual, I don't fuck pans"

Close friends and family: SO YOU LIKE TEFAL? https://t.co/6vkHfu0Co4— Loprov (@loprov) October 10, 2019

Many anecdotes had a heart-warming trend – coming out as queer to partners who then become close friends as a result:

Sat on the kitchen counter and blurted out “I think I like men” to my girlfriend of 5 years.
–
Now we’re best friends ?
— Craig Bowden (@thatcrai) October 8, 2019

Some tweets are seriously moving, and we advise to buy a box of tissues before even opening them up on your browser:

I had been widowed for over 3 years when I finally got the courage to come out. I called my kids together for a family dinner. Afterwards, when I Began to tell them, I started to choke up. My son stood up, and I thought he was walking out the door. But instead he came over to sit
— SleepingBearTim (@SleepingTim) October 8, 2019

As well as:

Told my parents when I was 23 after dating a guy for the 1st time & knew it wouldn’t work as a secret. They were fantastic. Mom told me before she passed away from cancer that she could rest knowing that he will continue to love & care for me when she’s gone and we should marry.
— Ross (@DrRoss22) October 8, 2019

Or just aggressively adorable:

It was quite legendary. I came out to my football coach when I was 12 and he made my team take an oath to not tell anybody outside of the team until I said it was okay. Mad respect. ??
— Elyakeem Ben Avraham (@ElyakeemAvraham) October 8, 2019

Some parents could qualify for the Parenting Olympics with how beautifully they reacted:

I was 16. My brother found a valentine’s card from my bf. I wrote a note & handed it to my mum and dad. My dad didn’t talk to me for a week & my mum looked so sad. Now my dad goes to @kylieminogue concerts with me and my parents are really supportive. But it was tough for a while
— Chris Reddall (@ChrisReddall) October 8, 2019

While others chose to highlight on National Coming Out Day that not all coming out stories are always smooth:

I told my mom first, who’s initial reaction was “so you take it up the butt?!”
Today she supports me, but I’ll never tell my homophobic father. He can figure it out himself. ? He doesn’t deserve the truth after bullying me and calling me a faggot when I was twelve and up.
— Hi, I’m Tail! | Science Caribou ? (@Tailfluffwuff) October 9, 2019

Parents went through my emails and chat logs finding out I had a boyfriend and a year down the line I got disowned to other people I am open about it, though I still get the odd person go "You don't seem gay?" Like bitch I don't care what you think. https://t.co/egclEmMHIU— Dragon Dan @CFZ2019 (@dragondan89) October 10, 2019

Tried telling my mother to grow closer together before I had my first year in Uni. She proceeded to tell my homophobic father and then they both gave me a "talk" before trying to look past it like it was an oopsie to forget. I never did. I'm still gay whether they like it or not. https://t.co/FpFVlHVuqB

— ??Thotticus-Maximus?? (@Wulfprince) October 10, 2019

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