Real people. Unique Stories.Coming Out Stories will take you to one the most important moments in many people’s lives. It will perch you on sofas in suburban sitting rooms, stand you in front of officials' desks, put you at the centre of a crowd in a noisy classroom, everywhere where these conversations have happened. It doesn’t even matter if you haven’t had a conversation like this yourself, or indeed ever plan to. Everyone can recognise the innate human desire to love and be loved, and that’s…
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You can grow up surrounded by farmland and still feel like you’re living on another planet. Kris Saim joins us from Kansas City to talk about what it means to carry secrets for decades. Kris shares a raw coming out story shaped by childhood sexual abuse, the fear-driven silence it creates, and the deep imprint of Pentecostal teaching that labels gay people as sinful. Kris also grew up in the AIDS…
We talk with Manchester-based poet Amy about growing up without queer role models, first love with a best friend, and learning to claim “lesbian” with joy. The chat ends with her live poem about a double coming out in Wetherspoons. • childhood in Grimsby with little queer visibility • legacy of Section 28 shaping silent classrooms • first crushes, confusion, and a secret relationship • telling mum…
A goodbye note found on a computer. A father who says, “I don’t understand, but I love you.” A marriage that proves joy can grow in places once ruled by fear. From rural West Virginia to an online audience that shows up for humour, makeup, and honesty, we sit with Bobby Jean Spears as he traces a path from secrecy to self-belief. If you’re weighing how and when to come out, you’ll find practical…
The moment Christina saw a woman looking back at her in the mirror changed everything. "I can't really describe the euphoria," she reveals. "It was like finding something I didn't know was missing." Christina's journey began with childhood signs that went unrecognised. Growing up in the 1990s, she always gravitated toward traditionally feminine activities and friendships with girls, yet lacked the…
When Patrick Kitana Ettenes bluntly told his father "I suck dick, daddy" at 15 years old, it marked just one turning point in a life brimming with extraordinary challenges and triumphs. Born in Barbados in 1983 to a Dutch father and Trinidadian mother, Patrick's childhood was a paradox of privilege and pain—his father's high-profile security work with prime ministers and diplomats couldn't shield…
What happens when you've spent nearly seven decades hiding your true self? Wendy Cole's story is a testament to courage, resilience, and the transformative power of authenticity. Born in the late 1940s, Wendy knew from age three that she was a girl, despite being assigned male at birth. At ten years old, she bravely dressed in her mother's clothes and declared her truth—only to face threats of…
Welcome back to Coming Out Stories after our six-month hiatus! As our seventh year begins, there have been moments when giving up seemed tempting. But looking at the increasingly hostile world around us, it's clear that now is precisely the time these stories need to be heard. Season Six arrives during a critical period for LGBTQ+ communities worldwide. Here in the UK, the Supreme Court recently…
How do you stay true to yourself when both society and your own family won't accept you? Kuchenga Shenje is a remarkable trans woman, writer, and journalist, who first understood her true gender identity at just three years old. Kuchenga's story is one of resilience and spiritual strength. Her childhood experiences shed light on the challenges trans folk face in a gender-normative environment and…
In this episode, meet the hugely successful author Simon James Green. Simon writes books for a YA audience that include vital representation for LGBTQ+ teens. This has led to his books being vilified and even banned. Simon talks about growing up gay in the UK in the shadow of Clause 28, a time when being true to oneself seemed nearly impossible. Simon recounts his personal journey of gradual…
Imagine growing up wanting a Barbie doll but feeling afraid to ask for it. In this episode, award-winning author Dean Atta, shares his poignant journey of self-discovery and the courageous story of coming out at 15. Dean reveals the trials and triumphs of navigating childhood and adolescence as a queer individual, offering a heartfelt reflection on his first crush and the strength he found within…