10 Tips for Coming Out as Bisexual to Friends and Family

You Want to Come Out, Now What?

Figuring out your sexual orientation is a big step in your life. You may have known for years that you are attracted to more than one gender, but you were afraid to admit it to yourself and to your family and friends. Or, perhaps you've only just realized that you are attracted to more types of people than you had previously thought. Whether you are just figuring out your sexuality or you have known it for years, you may be feeling a little bit lost as to how to come out as bisexual.

Wanting to be loved and accepted for everything you are is a common feeling, but bisexuals often feel conflicted about whether they should let the people in their lives know about their sexual orientation. Because bisexuals are often less visible than other people within the LGBT+ community, it can feel especially important to make your identity known. On the other hand, it could also feel less intimidating to simply stay in the closet if you know you can pass as straight or gay. Here are some tips for becoming more comfortable with your bisexuality and for coming out if you choose to do so.

1. Be Comfortable in Your Own Skin

Before you begin telling other people about your sexuality, it is important that you have already accepted that part of yourself. If you feel embarrassed or ashamed of who you are, you will automatically assume that the people you come out to will feel the same way about you, regardless of whether this is true. This mindset is not healthy. Before you make the decision to come out as bi to your family or friends, be sure you are comfortable with identifying with who you are.

2. Make Friends in the LGBT+ Community

If you have friends who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans*, or any other identity included in the LGBT+ spectrum, you might feel more comfortable coming out to them before outing yourself to the straight people in your life. People who have already gone through the process of coming out know what you are going through and will be able to give you support as you prepare to come out to your other friends and family.

3. Practice by Coming Out to Strangers or Casual Acquaintances First

If you are nervous about coming out to close friends and family, you may want to practice coming out to people you don’t know as well first. This could be people in online forums or strangers you are making small talk with in public places. Coming out to a stranger may seem scary, but casually mentioning your sexual orientation to someone you don’t know can help you to become more comfortable with discussing your identity. This revelation about your orientation doesn’t need to be dramatic. It can be as simple as simply mentioning celebrities of different genders that you might have a crush on.

4. Arm Yourself With Knowledge

Before you come out to people who may be less than supportive, it is important to prepare for any ignorant comments or questions they may throw at you. You will feel more confident about your identity if you start the conversation prepared. Bisexuality is often misunderstood, and stereotypes and myths about bi people are still very common. Be prepared to dispel any myths or stereotypes about bisexual individuals that they might still believe.

5. Make Sure the Timing Is Right

As eager as you may be to shout to the world who you are, in certain scenarios, it might be better to wait before coming out to certain people. If your parents have demonstrated that they are unsupportive of the LGBT+ community, you might not want to risk coming out to them while you still live under their roof and depend on them for financial security. In a perfect world, parents would always love and support their children no matter what, but sadly, that is not the world we live in. If there is any reason why coming out might be dangerous for you right now, it is better to wait, as hard as that may be.

6. Come Out for Yourself, Not for Anyone Else

Be sure that your decision to come out is for yourself. Though many people in the LGBT+ community view coming out as a defining milestone in a young LGBT+ person’s life, only you can decide if it is the right time for you to come out. Don’t do it just because that is what you think you have to do upon realizing that you are bi. If you are comfortable with your identity and want the people closest to you to know who you are, do it. If you are not yet comfortable with your identity, take all the time you need before letting other people know. If you never feel comfortable with coming out, that is your choice too. Never let anyone else make you feel bad or guilty for making either choice.

7. Understand That Approval Doesn’t Matter

When you do choose to come out to someone new, it is important to remember that your happiness is not contingent on their approval. You can’t force everyone to accept you. As heartbreaking as it is, there will always be some people who won’t accept your bisexuality. Some straight and gay/lesbian people alike refuse to accept bisexual people out of ignorance or hate. Even within the LGBT+ community, there are still people who refuse to accept bisexuals for various ignorant reasons. You can be confident about your identity and love yourself, even without the approval of others.

8. Remember That Bisexuality Is Only One Part of Your Identity

Coming out as bi does not change who you are. You are still the same wonderful person that you have always been, regardless of how others view your sexual orientation. Claiming the label “bisexual” does not mean you have to adopt every stereotype about bi individuals. Don’t change who you are or how you act to prove to anyone that your identity is valid. Bi is only one part of your identity. The other parts of who you are as a person are still just as important.

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9. You Don’t Need to Prove Your Identity to Anyone

More than any other orientation, bi people are expected to prove that they are actually bi, rather than a “straight attention seeker” or “gay and in denial.” Whether you have been involved with many people of different genders or have never even had a relationship yet, if you identify as bisexual, then you are bisexual. You don’t need to have been with a certain number of people, or the same number of men and women for your identity to be valid.

10. Only You Can Determine Your Identity

You are still bisexual if you end up with a man, a woman, someone who identifies outside of the gender binary, or even choose to remain single. The person or people you are currently with does not change your orientation. You do not have to identify as straight just because your relationship looks “straight” to outside observers, or as gay or lesbian just because you are in a same-sex relationship.

If later on you realize that some label other than bisexual better defines who you are, you are also free to begin identifying in that way instead. You are the only person who can figure out your sexual identity. If you find a label that better reflects who you are, you can begin the coming out process all over again, but only if you want to.

Come Out, or Not. It’s Up to You!

Coming out can be a scary and confusing process. If you still have doubts about your identity, it can be even more difficult to confide in the people you want to come out to. It is important that you are comfortable with your identity and are confident about who you are before coming out to new people. Coming out can make you feel more comfortable with your entire identity.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2018 Jennifer Wilber

Comments

Delaney Graham on August 14, 2020:

Im not sure how or when to come out to my parents as bi. My mom has said many times that she thinks being bi isnt a thing and that it is just someone being scared to be fully gay. Help please.

just a girll on July 22, 2020:

im bi but mostly attracted to women and Ive known for a year now and I want to tell someone like a family member but most of them are homophobic and will think of me as a disappointment... mostly my grandparents they'll think of me as disgusting because I watched a lgbtq movie and they said it was wrong and gross :( I cant tell my friends either because one girl that was well known said she was bi and no one talked to her again and called her hurtful words it feels good to get this off of my chest. well byeee have a good day whoever just took their time to hear me rant! :) ilyyyy

human on June 12, 2020:

so I just e-mailed my twin sister (who is a lesbian) that I am bisexual mainly attracted to men not even 5 minutes ago and now I am doing... I don't know what I should call it, research? on bisexuality and my identity. she first came out to me as bisexual mainly attracted to women. is this just a phase? if it is, how could I tell if it is or not? just a little confused right now... :/

Ksenia on March 22, 2020:

Just wanted to add something. You don't really need to identify yourself. Putting a label is not such a necessary thing for life. If you're not ready, you may not. And if you're ready but don't want to, you may not. Each of us is a person and this is enough to value us.

Young_Depressed on February 21, 2020:

I came out to my siblings and cousins but, only one keeps saying that it is wrong and when his little sister came out to us (no parents or friends) he said she wouldn't go to heaven or be forgiven by god and will go to hell and he screamed at me saying that my "disease" wore on her and its my fault she is bisexual too and I yelled back at him saying I would rather go to hell knowing I had a good life and not hiding. Then he just stayed quiet but his sister changed by becoming straight again for him,

Idgf on February 04, 2020:

I just came out to my parents by accident and then I just left can you tell me what I should do now?

Love on January 25, 2020:

I will for everyone

ye on December 23, 2019:

my life is a big oof

Jasmine on December 02, 2019:

My mom will disown me if i came out as bisexual its sad that no one will support me

Curlyunicorn on December 01, 2019:

I would love to come out to my family but sadly they are all really homophobic and would never understand bisexuality. But I'm sure my mom will try to understand and will support me

Maisie on November 23, 2019:

This will help me a lot i'm going to come out a difrent way to everyone and its gonna be ott because i'm very ott

poop:] on August 03, 2019:

I cant accept myself because everytime i want to i just remember how badly ive been treated by friends from coming out and its painful to remember those bad memories.[idk if im using my dad's account rn or mine oof]

lolliexox on July 11, 2019:

how do i come out as bi to my parents who think bi people are greedy? :(

Travel Chef from Manila on June 23, 2018:

Before anything else, a person must first accept his or her sexuality. Then they can do all of these tips. I think it's easier to communicate first with strangers rather than to family members. As strangers will fairly judge you.