coming out
Revealing one's truth
Coming out is the act of openly revealing something previously hidden about oneself, most commonly one's homosexuality or other LGBTQ+ identity: She came out to her parents last year, His coming out was a relief.
The phrase implies emergence from concealment—from "the closet" of secrecy into openness.
Coming out can also refer to revealing other concealable identities or conditions: coming out as an atheist, coming out about her depression.
Traditionally, a coming out was a young woman's formal debut into society.
Sexual and gender minorities
- gayAttracted to same sex
- lesbianWoman desiring women
- bisexualAttracted to multiple genders
- transgenderGender differs from assignment
nonbinary · queer · pansexual · asexual · genderqueer · questioning · intersex · demisexual
Public declaration of information
- confessionAdmission of wrongdoing
- revelationSurprising disclosed truth
- admissionEntry or confession
- declarationFormal public announcement
unveiling · telling · sharing · opening up · divulgence · acknowledgment · conversation · honesty
Consent to receive
- embraceHold closely in arms
- affirmationPositive statement of truth
- allyshipActive support for marginalized
- solidarityUnity among allies
understanding · validation · welcome · safe space · chosen family · community · resources · hotline
Maiden occurrence
- journeyTravel from place to place
- processSteps toward a result
- realizationGrasping what's true
- awakeningReturn to consciousness
self-discovery · turning point · before and after · closeted · in the closet · openly · publicly · privately
Boldness before danger
- vulnerabilityOpenness to harm
- fearEmotional response to threat
- riskPossibility of harm
- strengthPower to exert force
boldness · nerve · resolve · overcoming · facing · daring · liberation · empowerment
LGBTQ+
Sexual and gender minorities
transgender · nonbinary · queer · pansexual · asexual · genderqueer · questioning · intersex · demisexual · aromantic
announcement
Public declaration of information
- confessionAdmission of wrongdoing
- revelationSurprising disclosed truth
- admissionEntry or confession
declaration · unveiling · telling · sharing · opening up · divulgence · acknowledgment · conversation · honesty · truth-telling
acceptance
Consent to receive
- embraceHold closely in arms
- affirmationPositive statement of truth
- allyshipActive support for marginalized
solidarity · understanding · validation · welcome · safe space · chosen family · community · resources · hotline · support group
first time
Maiden occurrence
- journeyTravel from place to place
- processSteps toward a result
- realizationGrasping what's true
awakening · self-discovery · turning point · before and after · closeted · in the closet · openly · publicly · privately · family
bravery
Boldness before danger
- vulnerabilityOpenness to harm
- fearEmotional response to threat
- riskPossibility of harm
strength · boldness · nerve · resolve · overcoming · facing · daring · liberation · empowerment · self-acceptance
- identityidentity, personal identity, self, selfhood, self-expression
- disclosurerevealing, disclosing, disclose, divulge, reveal
- LGBTQgay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer
- Gay Culturerainbow flag, gay bar, drag queen, Stonewall, Castro
- LGBTQ figuresactivists, advocates, pioneers, trailblazers, historical figures
- LGBTQ+ rightsgay rights, equal rights, lesbian rights, transgender rights, LGBTQ+ rights
coming outhiding
Staying out of sight
concealment · suppression · denial · passing · repression
coming outgoing in
Moving to interior
entering · coming in · withdrawal · retreating · stepping in
coming outretreating
Moving back from advance
going underground · withdrawing · retiring · dropping out · disappearing
come, out, outcome, outgoing, come out, disclosure, outcomes, outgrowth, outgrow