by Lauren

In Lauren’s Junior year of high school, there was a “No Place For Hate” month. The month was followed by a panel with students talking about different forms of hate, like ra...

by Arni M.

Like many gays in the United States, I grew in up in a heterosexist and devoutly Protestant family. We went to church very frequently, where pastors would demagogue us and frighte...

by Rachel M.

I wasn’t even the one who brought it up. My mother asked me on a trip to Denver if I was questioning my sexuality, and a sense of relief flowed through me. For the past few mont...

by Benjamin Golden

In the small eastern Pennsylvania town where I grew up, homophobic bullying was like the noisy freight trains that thundered daily along the tracks at the edge of town:  just par...

by Barb Genton

Barb Genton was an elementary school teacher in a small, conservative town and remained closeted for most of her career. “I remained closeted and I dressed thinking that I was f...

by Austin

I was 22 and sitting in the living room of my house at college with two of my best friends, who I’ll call Jack and Kate.  I was also entirely closeted with no plans to come out...

by Matt Radcliffe

NOTE: Matt has written two IFD stories before. You should read both incredibly powerful and emotional stories here and here before reading his newest one below. It’s so exci...

by Rose

I think I’ve known I’m gay for years, but I’m still struggling to accept myself and am very much still in the closet. The more I discover myself, the more my relationship wi...

by Karo

I have always been gay. I knew actresses were gay before I knew I was and before I even knew what gay was. So coming to terms with it was quite easy for me, especially considering...