Coming Out Stories

From West Virginia Secrets To Self-Love: Bobby Jean’s Journey

22 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 onc...

"The girl in the mirror was finally looking back at me" One trans woman's journey.

13 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

 The moment Christina saw a woman looking back at her in the mirror changed everything. "I can't really describe the euphoria," she re...

Finding Pride in Barbados: Patrick's Journey Through Sexuality, Gender, and Dementia

16 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 brimmin...

Born This Way: A Life Reclaimed After 60 Years of Silence

18 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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...

We're back! Season six is on the way!

11 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Staying True: Kuchenga Shenjé's Journey of Identity, Resilience, and Creative Expression

11 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

How to *not* come out (and still live authentically!) Meet the YA author who has had his books banned

23 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode,  meet the hugely successful author Simon James Green.Simon writes books for a YA audience that include vital representation for LGBT...

Dean Atta: The Challenges of Growing Up Queer

18 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Jordan Gonsalves: Growing Up LGBTQ+ in Conservative Texas

21 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What does it mean to grow up LGBTQ+ in a conservative environment? Jordan Gonsalves is a podcaster and journalist from New York, who shares his deeply...

Kevin: The Transformative Power of Coming Out Later in Life

24 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What does it take to come out after 55 years of hiding your true self? Kevin O'Connor, an author and a gay man found the courage to embrace his i...

Love, Literature, and Living Authentically with Robert Tregoning

01 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Happy Pride Month!Today's episode comes from brilliant children's author Robert TregoningRobert shares his journey from a rural village in C...

From Silence to Advocacy A Trans Story of Resilience and Change

15 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ben Green grew up trans in a small Connecticut town.Now an activist and author of "My Child is Trans: Now What?" Ben reflects on just how di...

Jenny's Voyage of Authenticity: From Woking to Manchester via the Comedy Stage

01 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Imagine embarking on a voyage of self-discovery that doesn't truly begin until the age of 40. That's the  reality for Jenny, a trans woman ...

Fostering Belonging: Anna DeShawn’s Journey Through Queer Identity and Media

03 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Imagine the courage it takes to forge a path as a black queer woman in a world where your identity intersects with a rich tapestry of culture, traditi...

Michael: From Summer Camp to Corporate Change, a journey of self-acceptance in the Big Apple.

20 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

From his first inklings of being different at a summer camp,  to the seismic shift that occurred when he saw real gay representation in corporate Am...

Kirsty: Embracing Queerness on a Manchester Council Estate

06 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Remember that gut-punch moment when everything you thought you knew about yourself was turned on its head? That's where Kirsty Loehr found hersel...

Moe: Finding love, acceptance and dating as a trans, non-binary bisexual!

21 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

 Moe Ari Brown, was born into a working-class, religious family and raised on the South side of Chicago amid the Black church's rich traditions....

Blazing Trails: Arthur's Journey and the Formation of the World's First All-Trans Masculine Football Team

07 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Growing up in Peterborough, in the centre of England,  Arthur's story tells of the intimate struggles of growing up with a gender identity that ...

Living Out Loud: Annie Wallace on Pioneering Trans Visibility in Television

24 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Imagine discovering your true self at a time where even the word "transgender" was seldom whispered, then fast-forward to seeing that realit...

Gary: I felt jealous when my son came out to me. It took me 40 years to have the courage to do the same.

10 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Gary's story is proof that life does indeed begin at 40!Gary's journey through marriage, heartbreaks, and eventual joy in finding deep love ...

Braving the Past, Embracing the Future: Ann's Journey of Identity, Activism and Advocacy for other lesbian mothers.

27 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As the curtain closes on our 2023 series, we bring you the incredible story of Ann!Beginning in Liverpool in the late 50s and early 60s  – a time w...

Verity: I knew I was a boy but didn't know how to say that! The struggles and triumphs of a transgender athlete.

13 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

 Verity Smith is a trans gay man who is passionate about playing wheelchair rugby.After first coming out as a lesbian in the 90s, Verity played women...

The Power of Acceptance: Luma Mufleh's Struggle and Triumph

29 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Born into strict Muslim traditions in Syria and raised in Jordan, Luma is a beacon of hope and courage for all of us in the LGBTQ+ community.Her perso...

The Journey of a Happy, Holy Homosexual: Reverend Jide's Story

15 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

From Nigeria to the UK,  Reverend Jide's Macaulay, otherwise known as the 'happy, holy homosexual,' reveals his life's story. Fro...

The Undying Spirit of Juno Roche: Conquering Adversity in the Trans World

01 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What does it take to live authentically in the face of adversity and societal norms? Juno Roche is an iconic figure in the transgender community and a...

Coming Out Stories: A New Season of Resilience, Hope, and Love from the LGBTQ+ Community

19 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Get ready for a heart-stirring journey as we welcome you back to a brand-new season of Coming Out Stories. After a (rather long) pause, we're ret...

Kit: I never understood why all my friends were obsessed with boys! Then I came out, fell in love with women and lost my mind!

31 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Kit: I never understood why all my friends were obsessed with boys.  Then I came out, fell in love with women and lost my mind!In this, the final epi...

Valentino: My family simply didn't know how to raise a gay child

19 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Valentino: My family simply didn't know how to raise a gay childValentino grew up as a gay man and now identifies as being gender fluid, and whil...

Dharma: The teacher told me to play with the other boys, but I knew I wasn't a boy. It was a secret I kept for a long time.

03 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Dharma: The teacher told me to play with the other boys, but I knew I wasn't a boy.  It was a secret I kept for a long time.Dharma Kelleher is a...

Clifford: My dad suggested conversion therapy and I let him sit with that idea, I was literally the first gay person he knew.

19 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Clifford:  My dad suggested conversion therapy and I let him sit with that idea, I was literally the first gay person he knew. Clifford is our first ...

Special Episode: Queer We Are with Coming Out Stories' Emma Goswell and Sam Walker

12 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this very special eisode, we're sharing an intervew we did with Brad Shreve on his excellent podcast Queer We Are, a show where Brad talks to ...

Brad: For more than 30 years I convinced myself "I can't be gay. I will change someday"

06 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Brad: For more than 30 years I convinced myself "I can't be gay. I will change someday"In this episode, we're back in the United S...

EJ: I’ve had quite the internal war about how I identify. I don’t want to use the labels that society gives us!

23 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

EJ: I’ve had quite the internal war about how I identify. I don’t want to use the labels that society gives us!EJ is a young person who lives in a...

Andrew: I told myself that being bisexual was just a phase. It was not!

08 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Andrew:  I told myself that being bisexual was just a phase.  It was not!Andrew identifies as bisexual.  He hails from Scotland and is behind the L...

Grady: For forty years, I prayed for God to "fix me" Then I realised there was nothing to fix.

22 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

GradyGrady Throneberry  is the first openly gay police chief in Kentucky.He didn't come out until his sixties and what a story he has to tell!Ma...

Lucy Lou: The moment I put that dress on, I thought "I'm here!"

08 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Lucy LouThe moment I put that dress on, I thought "I'm here!"Lucy Lou is a trans woman who waited nearly 40 years to become the person ...

Day: It took me all night to garner the courage but at sunrise, I came out to her

25 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

DayIt took me all night to garner the courage but at sunrise, I came out to herDay is an artist and writer from California.He identifies as a gay man ...

Mark: I was so nervous, I had to leave the room, and came out to my mom from the kitchen.

11 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

MarkBecause I only heard the term in the playground,  I used to think "gay" meant someone who was bad at sports.Mark Chesnut is an award-wi...

Yo Yo: I grew up where it was illegal to be gay. I had to write love letters to my girlfriend in code

28 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Yo YoI grew up where it was illegal to be gay.  I had to write love letters to my girlfriend in codeMeet Yo Yo,  a lesbian from Malaysia, where it&a...

Andrew: I don't want to be hemmed into a box. I've done that for so many years.

14 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

AndrewI don't want to be hemmed into a box.  I've done that for so many years.Meet Andrew from Brighton, who once considered himself a &quo...

Jennie: "So many people knew they were gay from a young age, but that's just not my story""

30 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Jennie"So many people knew they were gay from a young age, but that's just not my story""Jennie Guay is an author who had only eve...

Jaxon: Walking back into work as a trans man was the most frightening thing I've ever done, but I've seen so many people change their mindset."

16 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Jaxon My Dad joked "What's wrong?  Are you pregnant? Are you getting a puppy?  You're not trans are you...?"Happy Trans Awarene...

Rob: “I tried so hard to change who I was. I changed the way I dressed, the way I spoke and even the way I walked. I didn’t feel safe being myself.”

02 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Rob “I tried so hard to change who I was.  I changed the way I dressed, the way I spoke and even the way I walked.  I didn’t feel safe being my...

Serena: When I came out to my 9 year old son, he said “Mammy, that’s very brave of you!"

19 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

SerenaWhen I came out to my 9 year old son, he said “Mammy, that’s very brave of you”Meet Serena, from Ireland, who came out as a lesbian later ...

A National Coming Out Day special!

11 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Happy National Coming Out Day!October 11 is National Coming Out Day in the UK and to celebrate, we've put together a very special episode just fo...

Paris: From the time I was a young kid, I always felt really connected to being both male and female

05 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

“From the time I was a young kid, I always felt really connected to being both male and female” The first episode of our brand-new season belongs...

Oh! Hello season four!

28 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It's been a long busy summer, but we're back with a brand new season of Coming Out Stories!  We can't wait to share new stories with y...

Oskar: “Identity is an internal thing, not how you look to other people”

27 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Ahead of a brand new season, we’re celebrating some of our favourite episodes!Oskar“I take the view with my trans identity, that unless you’re g...

Divina de Campo “If ever there was a little queerdo kid – it was me”

26 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Ahead of a brand new season, we’re celebrating some of our favourite episodes!Divina de Campo “If ever there was a little queerdo kid – it was m...

Angela and Lucia: “We painted “Lesbians are everywhere!” on the sides of buildings!”

25 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Ahead of a brand new season, we’re celebrating some of our favourite episodes!Angela and Lucia “Doctors tried to give me a lobotomy because I was...

Jacob: So many people say I am the only non-binary person they know and I think “Really?!”

24 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Jacob“Before I go into a public toilet I have to think: is there anyone in there who could hurt me?”  In a beautifully honest interview Jacob tal...

Asad: When I told my dad, I had a friend waiting outside with my suitcases.

23 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Ahead of a brand new season, we’re celebrating some of our favourite episodes!Asad“Before you come out, you assume the worst of the people you lov...

JJ: I didn't think my wife would stay with me, but I had to tell her my secret.

22 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Ahead of a brand new season, we’re celebrating some of our favourite episodes!JJ“I was scared to tell my wife how good it felt to wear a dress” ...

Dean McCullough on growing up in Northern Ireland as "Gay Dean"

21 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Ahead of a brand new season, we’re celebrating some of our favourite episodes!Dean“I remember regularly being called a fa**ot at just 9 years old”...

Tracey: “His dad still asks him: “When are you going to find a girl to marry?””

04 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Tracey “I came home to find my son on the sofa with his school friend.  I could feel the chemistry between them.  It was a real lightbulb moment f...

Des: Now I go to Pride, even if my sons can't make it!

20 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Des “When my sons first came out, I had to re-evaluate the ideas I had held about the lives they would lead. That took time" On this season of ...

Sarah: When my child told me they were trans, I didn't know what to say

06 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Sarah “I really wish as a family we’d had conversations about LGBT+ lives with all our children much earlier on” On this season of Coming Out St...

Aruna

23 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Aruna   “He started crying and asked me 'mum, do you still love me?  Are you ashamed of me?' " On this season of Coming Out Stor...

Marilyn

09 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Marilyn “I didn’t realise they were both struggling with their sexuality, although looking back, all the signs were there” On this season of Com...

Bruce

23 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Bruce “We had no idea he was crying himself to sleep every night"  On this season of Coming Out Stories, we’re going to “Meet the Parents!...

Jackie

09 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Jackie “I realised that the magazine I found under my son's bed was not a body building magazine..." We’re back for Season Three! This t...

Annie

26 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Annie “When my child was three she told me she didn't want to wear 'boys' clothes anymore" We’re back for Season Three! This t...

Stevie

22 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Stevie “When I came out to my mum as gay she said "Is that because you can't get a boyfriend?" In our final episode of season two, me...

Stephen

08 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Stephen “I didn't know what intersex even meant, until I discovered it was who I am" Founder of Surrey Pride, Stephen, only discovered he ...

Marie

24 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Marie “Even today, my kids say to me, Mommy, you're not gay" Marie is a grandmother, who grew up in the Bronx in New York City and she did...

Alex

10 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Alex “I remember thinking: 'When I grow up I want to be a girl'" Alex is a trans woman who grew up changing into dresses the moment s...

David

27 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

David “My wife found my chatroom history, that's how I came out to her" David spent many years married to a woman and being a stay at home...

Faz

13 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Faz “I was struggling with my identity at six years old" Faz is a shia muslim of Pakistani heritage, who came out first as gay and then as a tr...

Lorelei

29 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Lorelei “Discovering that I was trans gave me back my life." Lorelei is a trans woman who lives in Bolton in England and she’s a cosplayer, m...

Melissa: The moment she kissed me, I felt an enormous sense of relief

10 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Melissa“The moment she kissed me, I felt an enormous sense of relief."Melissa Ferrick is an award-winning singer-songwriter who has released se...

Aidy

01 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Aidy “My online boyfriend turned out to be a woman!" Aidy Smith is the Wine and Spirits columnist for The Independent and host of The Three Dri...

Lee

18 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Lee “My Dad told me as a kid, you can be anything in life, but don't be a lesbian." This week, meet Lee, a real LA woman! Lee identifies a...

Val

04 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Val  “Don't be afraid to be Muslim and gay. You can be both" The provocatively name Val Qaeda is a Muslim drag queen who was thrown out o...

Sam

21 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Sam “I had a revelation about my sexuality during lockdown" Sam knew twenty years ago when she was a teenager that she was attracted to women, ...

Ray

08 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Ray “I kept quiet about being gay, even to myself.  Dating some women in my teens, helped me understand who I was."  Ray is a real-life ghost...

Raga

23 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Raga “When I finally came out as a lesbian, my own mother threatened me with a knife"  Buckle up! This is an extraordinary story of a woman wh...

Jamie

09 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jamie “I couldn't see myself living as a gay man.  I was too fearful" Out and proud musician Jamie talks about repressing his sexuality g...

Rhian

26 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Rhian “I was distressed about the fact that I'm asexual for a very long time" In a first for Coming Out Stories, we speak to Rhian about b...

Kestral

12 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Kestral “I would rather run around naked than wear the 'boy' clothes I was given" Kestral identifies as a queer trans woman, who told...

Leighton

28 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Leighton “I was too scared to go to my own father's funeral" This time,  you'll hear from Leighton, who grew up in England but has f...

Claire

14 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Claire “Telling my daughter was such a weight off my shoulders" Claire didn't come out as trans until her mid 40s when she had to tell bot...

"Coming Out Stories" X "The Euro Trip"!

13 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

"Coming Out Stories" X "The Euro Trip"!   In a special bonus episode, we've got together with our friends at the best Eu...

Eleanor Crewes

07 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Eleanor “I went on a date with a man who I had convinced myself was perfect and told myself - if it doesn't work,  then you're gay" ...

We're Back!

06 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Coming Out Stories is back!  A quick hello from Emma and Sam to let you know about some of the incredible people we've spoken to for season two ...

Coming Out Stories the book is.....Coming Out!

10 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Coming Out Stories the book is.....Coming Out! A very special episode in which presenter Emma Goswell and producer Sam Walker discuss the forthcoming ...

Michael

05 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Michael Gunning “I suppressed so many feelings for so long. I just didn't want to be seen as any different from the other competitive swimmers....

Tim

29 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Tim “I always thought there must be something wrong with me” Timothy Tsai grew up in Taiwan in the 60s and 70s and knew he had to 'escape&apo...

Donnya

22 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Donnya Piggott “I fancied women, so thought I was bisexual. I 'obviously' fancied men too I told myself, as that's what I was suppose...

Divina de Campo

03 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Divina de Campo “If ever there was a little queerdo kid – it was me” Star of The Voice and runner-up in the first ever Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK,...

Phil

20 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

"I accidentally texted my mum instead of my boyfriend" Phil is a pilot, originally from South Africa.  A mix up with a text message nearly...

Rachel

06 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

“My brother found out my secret when he opened my post” Rachel identifies as being “partially gender-fluid” or a “cross dresser” In the 19...

Owain Wyn Evans

22 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

“My straight brother took me to gay bars, to make sure I was safe” TV weather presenter and celebrity drummer Owain Wyn Evans, found that his pare...

Kayden

08 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

“If I could turn back time and come out as trans at 20, then I would.  Waiting nearly killed me” Kayden is a queer trans man, who first  came o...

Jessie

25 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

“She asked me if I was gay and I just said “Yes!” I couldn’t believe I had actually said it” Jessie grew up in Essex and struggled to come o...

Patrick

11 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

"I reclaimed the words bullies used to throw at me for being gay" Successful make up artist Patrick grew up in Northern Ireland where he was...

Tim Sigsworth MBE

27 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

“I ran away from home and found my queer family” Tim Sigsworth MBE is the Chief Executive of the Albert Kennedy Trust.  Like a lot of the young p...

Asifa Lahore

13 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

“I never thought I would have the courage to tell my parents who I am" Asifa Lahore is Britain’s first out Muslim drag queen. She now identif...

Iain Dale

30 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

“I will never forget the dead look in my mother’s eyes when I told her” Writer, broadcaster and political commentator Iain Dale didn’t come ou...

Ed

16 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Ed is a writer and LGBT+ travel expert Boston.  He kept his sexuality a secret until he was inspired to come out by other LGBT+ students at Harvard ...

Jackie

02 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Poet, comedian and theatre maker Jackie Hagan identifies as bisexual, or queer.  She has a very unique list of her first childhood crushes! Presente...