Allyson
I was twelve when I realized I was a lesbian it was hard for me because i had been dealing with other issues. When I was growing up I was aware that I like girls however I just thought it was a phase. I am now seventeen years old and am in a wonderful relationship that has spannned three. The best part was nobody had a problem when I came out. It was weird after the stories i have heard.
Barb
I grew up in a small town in Northeastern Kentucky. Also know as the Bible Belt Gossip Belt of the world. I remember having my first real crush on a girl when I was six. I didn't think anything of it. It seemed quite natural to me. I never really liked boys. They're ok, but I felt that I got along so much better with girls. Then it happened, high school. I first saw her walking down the hall. I was a senior, she was a sophmore, our eyes met as we passed each other down the hall. It was as if no one else existed at that particular moment. We started hanging out and before you knew it we kissed. It was as if lightning had struck me. I grew weak in the knees and thought I might faint. It was the most innocent and exciting moment of my life.
Barbara
I was 10 when i had my first experience with another girl. She was my best friend, and our relationship went on for a couple months, and then we began to realize what we were doing, and began to wonder if we were supposed to be like this. We ended up never talking again, and we both hid it for years always believing people would reject us if they ever found out. I came out a couple years ago, and people are ok with my sexuality, and it really helps to know that people can accept you for who you are regardless of your sexuality.
Boogie
Well, I'm a female about the age of 17. I came out of the closet to my mother but feel that due to religious reasons I have been puched back in. It was at the age of six that I realized I was different from the rest of my peers. Like any other elementary school girl I kept a close alliance with friends, but there was always somehting more, a deeper thing like, hey lets play house I'll be the mommy and so can you. Just as the story of "Ash" stated that he forgot about his attraction to men, I too forgot for sometime about my attraction to the same sex. Until junior high when I came out to my best friends. They were not supportive and seemed not to want to support me. Like many I started to doubt who I was, one minute I was straight the next I was Bisexual and then I was a Lesbian. It wasn't until my junior year in high school that I finally accepted the fact that I was a homosexual. I love myself despite what opposing sides might say. I know that God loves me for who I am and what I believe in. This is just the begining of my life, I have more obstacles overcome. But that's ok because coming was a good thing for me, I have pride for the nation that I stand for.
Cindy
Lesbian. . a word that i never knew what the meaning was. . till I found out that is who I am, and always was. Around the age of ten I had feelings toward girls that were my age, but didnt think anything of it. Then at 15, i started "dating" other girls that where out of highschool. Finding that this is who I am. Later in highschool, I found myself dating a "gay guy" feeling that I needed to cover up to my friends and family. Then started outing myself to friends a year later after ending relationship with him. Telling my mom was the hardest thing. My family is very southern basptist. Was just 4 years ago, at church I told her. The timing was wrong, but just happened. Since she found me with another girl in my bed days before. The issue of me being a lesbian hasnt really came up again. But I think she knows the truth. Now I am dealing with a broken up relationship. Life goes on, and life can be cut short. . a time when you never know. Always learn to be yourself. The hardest lesson in life
Galalea
Well, I'm 13. I figured out I was bi about a year ago, cuz I had a crush on my two best friends. One was a boy, and the other a girl. I just told her that I'm bi about two weeks ago, but not that I had a crush on her. I had the curage to anounce it publicly at a friends birthday party, when my other best friend anounced that she was bi under a dare. She is now my crush, and I'm not really sure if I should tell her, or how. And how in the world should I tell my mom?
Ginger
My first semi-erotic thoughts were actually quite young and involved only females. I was always attracted to women until I was 12 and my cousin told me what a lesbian was! I felt really confused at this point because she told me it was unnatural and I didn't want to be unnatural. I developed into my teens and constantly told myself that I didn't like girls, until an encounter with my best friend at the time. People started to notice that we were involved, but through so many positive areas: I seemed so much more happy. My parents recently asked me if I was "a lesbian" (like it was bad). I answered that they shouldn't care what I was- they should love me no matter what. And that's what real love should be about.
Haley
I came out when I was about 14. I spent the night at my friend's house because she was having a slumber party. There were about 10 girls there. We played truth or dare and one of my friends asked me to french kiss the girl to my right. That was my best friend. I was a little shy at first. We did it and it felt pretty good. After that I really got turned on. When we were done, I asked my best friend if she liked the kiss. She said sort of and asked if I wanted to again. I went for it. Nobody was really looking but we made out for a while. After that she asked me if we wanted to have a deep relationship because she wanted to. I said yes. After that we came out in front of our friends and they didn't say much. We are both 17 now and we broke it off a year ago but I have a new girlfriend. I don't know about sex.
Makia
I didn't think about being a lesbian or anything like that. I hadn't heard of it, but I did have an attraction to girls. When I was about 7 years old my mother caught me and a girl kissing and I was on top of her humping. My mother spanked me I really felt bad for the spanking. I also felt embarassed. I always enjoyed playing mommy and daddy. I was always the daddy. Until this day my mother never knew, or perhaps never thought I was a lesbian. She probably thought it was something I had seen an adult do. I am married now, but I have problems in my relationship because I do not have sexual feelings for my husband. I get very tensed. Once, an older lady approached me about being with her indirectly, I was really turned on, but was afraid of getting caught with her. I finally told my sister. She said she already knew. That was a load off my shoulder. She supports me in everyway possible especially when I need someone to talk with.
Michelle
It was my junior year in high school when I first realized I was a lesbian. This girl named Kayla I had been friends with ever since before I was 5. We did everything best friends do. Hardly a day went by when we didn't see each other. But all at once I got these feelings about Kayla that were so intense I can't even describe. But even though Kayla and I could always talk to each other, but I felt like I'd lose my best friend if I told her even I was gay! I kept my crush secretive for about a year. I already had a short relationship with another woman, Amy. It wasn't that serious. Kayla never even suspected I was gay. After Amy and I broke up, I couldn't hold my secret from anyone any longer. First I sat down with my mother and had a long talk with her about my sexuality. She said she still accepted me, because that element didn't seem to matter to her. After that I called Kayla. I told her I was gay and that I loved her. She said she didn't want to leave me because I was gay, but she said one thing only, "Why didn't you tell me you loved me?" I told her I was afraid of losing my best friend. Kayla confessed she had had feelings for me in the past. Today we are married. We have been for about five years. Coming out for me was difficult-it took a year! But because of the way things are now, I see it was worth it.
Missy
I was at the age of 11 when I realized that I had this liking for females. The person that I am I thought as if it was a phase I was going through and who to say that I was going to be this way forever. But as time passed by I came to realize that it's not really a phase because I came to like females each and every day. Now that I'm 23 years of age I've been through 4 relationships they were all different but I've learn something out of the 4 relationships I've been in. To sum this all up coming out that's a situation you would have to prepare yourself for meaning you have to be a strong person
Red
I was 13 when I had my first crush. Her name was Lisa I was going to class, and she was coming down the hall. I though that no one else was even there. We started hanging out, then we were over one of my friends house, and she asked me to go outside with her. When I did she kissed me, it was like lighten hit me I went weak at the knees and I thought I was going to faint. But the next was a different story I went in school, right then my friends said, "We have to talk." Someone say us my life went to hell after that my parents sent me away for 6 yrs. But now I'm a happy married woman. I'm married to Lisa. The most wonderful woman in the world.
Samanth
I am only realy half way out. I was 12 when i realised i fancied girls, I had boy who i was friends with but i looked at girls my first kiss was with a girl. When i was thirteen my best friend emma and i started kissing each other etc. Emma stayed every weekend. My Mum never suspected any thing. This went on for just over a year then she met a boy. I was deverstated we didnt speak again for a long time.
Sky
At 6, I fell in love. She transferred to another school. At 7, I fell in love. this time I was in love for two years. I fell out of love by nine. At 10, i fell in love again, this time I transferred. At 12, i fell in love again BUT this time she was 35. At 16, i fell in love for real. She left. but this time she came back and for the first time, I made love. Of course it didn't last, I "got saved" and struggled with the feelings. Oh, how I struggled. Now after a long term relationships, I am married. She is wonderful, I am happy and "still saved". I pray for all struggling with coming out. Coming out to yourself is the first step.
Smile
I remember having feelings for girls not only emotionally but physically. I'm 26 now and have know about my sexuality since I was in elementary school. I remember always having feelings for other girls not only emotionally but physically. I really didn't know how to channel all of this at a young age. I grew up not really liking society very much lets just say that I saw through alot of the crap. I grew up in a small town that is republican very non-liberal which wasn't the perfect place for me to be. In a lot of ways society made me build a big wall around myself. Even though I spent many years in slience, I never forgot the way that I felt and the wall didn't change me. At the age that I am at today I have had many years to figure out alot about myself and my feelings. I have come to the conclusion that I can either live my life for others or myself. Once I chose myself I was able to get on with my life.
Anon
It all started when I was 13. Yes, 13. It may seem like I was far too young to be 'coming out', but that's beside the point. I'm an extremely androgynous person-on the 'Net and off. So, when one day, a girl came up to me over the 'Net and said, "I think you're cute-wanna become a cyber-couple?" I wasn't all that surprised. However, I did tell her that I was a girl. She didn't care. And so began my very first relationship. I kept it a secret for a while- 3 years, about. When I turned 16, however, I started to realize that I felt attracted to one of my female friends. So, one day during lunch, there was a lull in the conversation, and I heard myself blurt out, "Guys...I'm a lesbian. " They all turned and stared at me. My friend Kathy was the first to speak. "I knew it. " I looked at her. "You did? ...But how?" She shrugged. "I don't know..." Now, ten years later, I still have many of those friends-and I'm eternally grateful for them. They've met my current girlfriend, and they think that we're 'an adorable couple'. My parents, however, have yet to be told...
Brenda
I don't remember this, but apparently when I was around four years old, I wanted to be a bride for Halloween. My mom asked me who I was going to marry and I told her that I was going to marry Danielle who was my best friend.
My mother laughed and said, "no honey, you have to marry a boy, girls can't marry girls. How about Brad? He's awfully cute."
I guess I laughed and told her that by the time I grew up, girls would be allowed to marry girls, and I was going to marry Danielle. So, I guess I came out at four years old.
Claudia
My first love was Kelly Mize. The greatest thing about Kelly was her ability to smile. She was always smiling, which was always interesting to me because Kelly always dressed so gothic. So here she was all dressed in black with black lipstick, blue fingernail polish and a smile so perfect Disney would use it in an ad.
I knew Kelly since second grade. We have been through everything from our parent's divorce to braces to our first kiss. We were thirteen and we had braces, and we wondered if it was true that your teeth could lock together if you kissed someone else with braces, so we decided to kiss. And wow!
The braces didn't lock, but we sure did! We began messing around, you know, out of curiosity, and six years later , the braces were long off and we were "rooming" together at college.
Laura
Coach Sally Lawrence was my first love. She was the PE teacher my freshman year and also the girl's volleyball coach. She often wore a dark blue sweat suit with a light blue stripe down the side. Her brown hair was always up in a ponytail and sometimes she wore a ball cap.
I wasn't athletic at all, but Coach Lawrence found a way to make me feel good about the effort I was putting into the activity. At the beginning of my sophomore year Coach Lawrence found me sitting in the courtyard at school and sat down next to me on the bench.
She asked me to join the volleyball team because she needed someone on the team who had a positive attitude and could rally the team together. She gave me a thousand compliments, and from that night forward, she was my first true love.
By my junior year, I was captain of the team and we went to the State finals. In my Senior year, we actually won. I can't imagine my high school years if not for Coach Lawrence sitting down on that cement bench next to me.
Vicky
My coming out story didn't happen exactly the way I wanted, but it's part of my life and part of who I am, so I have to own it.
I was fifteen, and I was in puppy love with a girl named heather. It was the strangest time of my life, I couldn't think in school, I just wanted to get to my locker to see Heather, I quit cheerleading, because I had to practice everyday, and I wanted to spend my time with Heather.
Well, needless to say, my grades started to fall, and my parent's became suspicious. They thought I was on drugs, so they started to snoop. This is when they found the notes Heather had given me.
I was forbidden to see Heather, and they took me to counseling twice a week. The funny thing is I didn't need counseling for being gay, I needed counseling because I missed Heather so bad and I was so, so, so mad at my parents.
Now I'm old enough to be out of the house, and the truth is it's my life, loving girls is not a phase and I wish there was a way to let them know everything would be perfect if they would just leave me alone about it.
Barbara
I was 10 when i had my first experience with another girl. She was my best friend, and our relationship went on for a couple months, and then we began to realize what we were doing, and began to wonder if we were supposed to be like this. We ended up never talking again, and we both hid it for years always believing people would reject us if they ever found out. I came out a couple years ago, and people are ok with my sexuality, and it really helps to know that people can accept you for who you are regardless of your sexuality.
Ginger
My first semi-erotic thoughts were actually quite young and involved only females. I was always attracted to women until I was 12 and my cousin told me what a lesbian was! I felt really confused at this point because she told me it was unnatural and I didn't want to be unnatural. I developed into my teens and constantly told myself that I didn't like girls, until an encounter with my best friend at the time. People started to notice that we were involved, but through so many positive areas: I seemed so much more happy. My parents recently asked me if I was "a lesbian" (like it was bad). I answered that they shouldn't care what I was- they should love me no matter what. And that's what real love should be about.
Haley
I came out when I was about 14. I spent the night at my friend's house because she was having a slumber party. There were about 10 girls there. We played truth or dare and one of my friends asked me to french kiss the girl to my right. That was my best friend. I was a little shy at first. We did it and it felt pretty good. After that I really got turned on. When we were done, I asked my best friend if she liked the kiss. She said sort of and asked if I wanted to again. I went for it. Nobody was really looking but we made out for a while. After that she asked me if we wanted to have a deep relationship because she wanted to. I said yes. After that we came out in front of our friends and they didn't say much. We are both 17 now and we broke it off a year ago but I have a new girlfriend. I don't know about sex.
Joy
I was 12 years old when I met Melissa. She was 20. We hung out, knocked over Taco signs(long story), screamed at passerbys, went downtown, held parties, and generally were pain in the ass. We didn't share secrets or stories, but I remember the last time I saw her - she was walking out of my life forever. She said she was going to live with her boyfriend, move away, finish college, do whatever... she said we'd keep in touch. That was 5 years ago. I didn't know I loved her until a few years ago - how do you know that when you're 12? I can remember hugging her so hard, and complimenting her tastes in clothes and life and I tried to be her exact equal and her fashion child. The only thing I have to remember her is a picture and memories.
Since then, I've been outed to various people by an ex-girlfriend, and generally been "out" for 3 or 4 years. I'm 17 years old. My mother knows, my aunt knows, my ex-girlfriend, all of my friends, and anyone who asks! The only thing that makes me able to tell anyone is that I know, in my heart, that it's real, and no matter what anyone says, I have dreams of a woman and her dog living in a beautiful house with me, and sharing the secrets I never shared with the girl I first loved.
I still thank Melissa in my heart even though we don't speak anymore.
Michelle
It was my junior year in high school when I first realized I was a lesbian. This girl named Kayla I had been friends with ever since before I was 5. We did everything best friends do. Hardly a day went by when we didn't see each other. But all at once I got these feelings about Kayla that were so intense I can't even describe. But even though Kayla and I could always talk to each other, but I felt like I'd lose my best friend if I told her even I was gay! I kept my crush secretive for about a year. I already had a short relationship with another woman, Amy. It wasn't that serious. Kayla never even suspected I was gay. After Amy and I broke up, I couldn't hold my secret from anyone any longer. First I sat down with my mother and had a long talk with her about my sexuality. She said she still accepted me, because that element didn't seem to matter to her. After that I called Kayla. I told her I was gay and that I loved her. She said she didn't want to leave me because I was gay, but she said one thing only, "Why didn't you tell me you loved me?" I told her I was afraid of losing my best friend. Kayla confessed she had had feelings for me in the past. Today we are married. We have been for about five years. Coming out for me was difficult-it took a year! But because of the way things are now, I see it was worth it.
debbieok
I have been a lesbian for as long as I can remember. When I was 5 I proposed to my kindergarten teacher (Mrs. Blackmore - ahhh, what a babe!) Now this was in the late sixties, but she was the epitome of woman - think Marlo Thomas in That Girl. She gently explained that she would have married me, except that she was already married. I took it in stride and was just happy that she acknowledged me.