by Ryan Thompson

Gay Son Brings Mom to His Ball… and She Ends Up Competing

I’m Ryan Thompson. I’m from Houston, Texas.  And in high school, I was out in school, but not out to my mom.  A couple of years later, I’m in college, first wiAnd I said, “Yes.”  Then she says, “Okay. Well, I already knew that. I was just waiting for you to tell me.”  So when we made it to the hospital, um, the...

by Andrew Knips

Coming Out as Gender Expansive to Family

 I’m Andrew Knips. I’m from St. Paul, Minnesota.  I grew up in the ’90s and early 2000s and in a really, really loving, caring home. My parents provided me wiAnd I think really at the end of the day, like, I was telling a story to myself and asking this question, like, “Is my family going to accept me? Am I gonna be loved for who...

by Harrison Eppright

A Gay Man’s Journey From Self-Loathing to Self-Acceptance

 I am Harrison David Eppright, and I’m from Austin, Texas.  About 1960… I’ll say 1968, I came across an article in Time Magazine. I was 13 years old, came acrFinally, it’s just that I met this guy when I was about 37 years old, and he just totally changed my life. He was biracial. He was part Black and part French and, and proud ...

by Dr. Marlon Johnson

Hymn Leads Queer Christian to Come Out to His Parents

 My name is Dr. Marlon Johnson. I am from Sumter, South Carolina.  When I was finishing up the first year of my time in grad school, I was learning to become a professional couSo I call my parents. And they’re sitting down, they’re letting me know they’re having dinner. I just have this shaky breath. And I just say, “I got to talk to...

by Jennifer Knight

How Music Helped One Trans Guitarist Survive and Thrive

 My name’s Jennifer Knight and I’m from Canada.  I knew from age two that I was female or trans as they call it, at that age. During the Atomic era, being a child oI could not have made it, you know, through life without music. Period. No pill, no drug, no alcohol, no talk therapy, nothing can replace that and that’s something that you...

by Jendi Reiter

Adoption, Transition, and Becoming Whole

 I’m Jendi Reiter and I’m from New York City.  I grew up in the lower East side of Manhattan in the 1970s with two moms. My biological mom was very femme and kind oIn 2016, there was the Pulse nightclub shooting, the hate crime against the queer folks in the nightclub. There are a lot of people who are coming out in solidarity or putting stu...

by Criss Christoff Smith

Trans Man Thought He Had It All—Until He Found His True Self

 I am Criss Christoff Smith. I grew up on a farm in Jamaica.  When I was about six years old, I was on my grandmother’s farm playing with my older brother. My grandmotherAfter I migrated to the United States, I lived in Brooklyn, New York with my mother, and my mother was very, very strict with us. Living in Jamaica, I was so free. I had so much f...

by Bernie Wagenblast

The Trans Woman Behind the NYC Subway Announcements

My name is Bernie Wagenblast. I’m from Cranford, New Jersey.  I was four years old. I recall being at my grandmother’s house, sitting in front of her vanity, putting And one of the things that I had come across online was a new app that had come out called Face App. You could upload a photo of yourself and you would be able to see how you look...

by Aria Renee Curameng

“Um, But…Why?” Nonbinary Person Navigates Questions After Coming Out

 I’m Aria Renee Curameng and I’m from Fort Washington, Maryland.  Back in, I want to say 2021, I went out with a friend of mine and we constantly went to piano barsAnd it’s 2023, and it’s just rehearsals in January. One day we… we’re on break, and we’re having lunch. There’s about four of us in the ensemble, s...