My first instinct was to say "My husband", but now that I think on it, I told a cousin of mine about my feelings years ago when I was still in high school.  Of course, back then it wasn't taken seriously and I hardly understood it, myself.  When my husband and I first started dating a few years after that, I told him that my gender identity didn't really align with my birth sex all the time, but once again it wasn't really taken seriously or seen as a reason to make any changes.  It wasn't until fairly recently (within the past couple of years) that I told my best friend and started being more insistent about my feelings with my husband.  He's well aware of it now and that is why we intend to get divorced, but at least we will be doing so as friends.  It's been a slow process telling everyone else in the meantime.

I first "came out" to a close friend. I had spent over a month mostly at my place processing all the feelings I had regarding this, and when I came out she was a natural choice. She was one of those who had got me to think about this, after all. And she had had a similar experience, too.

It was easy to come out to her, the people after that have made me feel a bit sad or confused or shy after I told them - even if most of them have said they sort of expected this about me. To my relatives I haven't said anything. There's one sister of mine that probably would understand (since she already feels a bond with me via being the only other "bi" in our family), but parents? Dunno, they had hard enough to tolerate me coming out as liking girls. Luckily I'm not as close to them as I could be, and it's possible that I never tell them.

First person that I came out to was my therapist. That really doesn't count though but that is how it happened for me. After sitting down and talking with a complete stranger for a few weeks though I built up the courage to tell my closest friends, and then sort of let the whole thing snowball from there. My parents we the last to find out in terms of the people who I am in contact with a lot, but that was because I really wasn't sure what to expect from them despite knowing them for my entire life. I built up a support network with friends and all so that if everything had come crashing down at least I would have somewhere to turn. Thankfully it all worked out though, but it definitely took some time for some people.

First person I told was my best friend, and she was completely fine with it. In fact she switched to the name I wanted to be called as soon as I told her. It was just such a relief to not act around someone and get it off my chest.
And then I was feeling braver because of such a positive reaction from her, I told one of my male friends and he was weirded out by it. Haven't really told anyone else.

Quote from: ReverseRainbow on September 30, 2012, 11:17:15 AM
First person I told was my best friend, and she was completely fine with it. In fact she switched to the name I wanted to be called as soon as I told her. It was just such a relief to not act around someone and get it off my chest.
And then I was feeling braver because of such a positive reaction from her, I told one of my male friends and he was weirded out by it. Haven't really told anyone else.

Glad your first reaction was so accepting, and sorry your second wasn't as good. Don't let either reaction keep you from following your heart.

You never can tell how someone will react until you tell them. You also cannot tell how they will deal with it long term based on their initial reaction- some folks freak out and then come around, and there will always be somebody who starts out supportive and then goes the other way. You never can tell because you don't know what expectations and inner conflicts people hold inside themelves.

If your guy friend was attracted to you when you were still presenting as female, it may make him question his own sexuality that he was attracted to a man, or he could feel hurt that his dream girl is becoming a dream man. Or he could just be a speak first think later type, who will come around.

First person I ever really told was a childhood friend of mine.  She herself was apart of the LGBT community and was supportive.  Unfortunately we haven't talked much since then though. 

I told my parents after that and they were not supportive at all.  My dad couldn't wrap his head around it and my mom refused to discuss it period.  However, we've come a long way since then and they've both become more supportive... especially my dad.

I accidentally came out to another childhood friend.  I had come out to her in high school... but the way I had come out was... too subtle and indirect.  So I was kind of unprepared when I came out in a more direct fashion.  I'm pretty sure it went something in the way of, "So, you know how I'm trans,"  She's been very supportive though.

I've told others too.  Most of my co-workers, my sister, her husband, his dad, and an uncle.

After my wonderful wife of 7 years, I came out to her mother outside a jazz club in new orleans.  Went very well, too.... it doesnt hurt that there are so many lgbqueer members of that family, seriously about 10, not including my wife and mother-in-law! Very welcoming indeed....

I told people here and there as a kid but when I came back to the issue as an adult I first told my boyfriend.

Hi;
The first person I told was a Lesbian friend of mine. The next was a couple who were both bisexual (well the wife was). She was involved with my Lesbian friend and the wife used to go out on shopping trips together. The next person to know was my wife. She wasnot supportive and we ended up getting divorced. When I transitioned the first time, I came out to my one of the secretary, then her sister. She turned out top be a lifelong friend.  Then it was GP then I then told my next door neighbour, then the couple on the other side, then of Russel Reid, then the beauty salon and so the transition started.

On my overseas stint, it was my various Lesbian flatmates, the second mother and her boyfriend, more women that I met
Hugs

After I accepted it myself, I talked to my girlfriend but never used the word transgender as we lived in different countries at the time and I didn't want to tell her over Skype or on Facebook, I was going back home for Christmas about a week later anyway. So basically, I told her, but I didn't. So, when I came home for Christmas, a couple of people already knew as she'd asked me for my permission to tell her best friend and some.

The first people I would've told were my friends from like 9th and 10th grade, via Facebook as I've not seen them since about that age. Neither of them were surprised, after all, I'd run around pretending to be their boyfriend all the time back when I was 14. Then the first person I told in real life was my ex-girlfriend, I was staying at her place after school was out for the holidays but my flight wasn't for a couple of days. I gathered up some liquid courage and told her, her reaction being, "Yeah, you basically told me back when we were together, but you're drunk so I'll ask you again in the morning." She never did and then four months later everyone was calling me by a male name and she came for a visit and sort of when, "Ooooh, I forgot to ask him about that again..."

I was at Starbucks with my second oldest friend and I was dancing around what was bothering me.  So he says, "It's not like you want to be a woman!" So I blurt out, "Actually yeah, I need to be."

That was 12-13 years ago.

We're still friends and now that I've started HRT he's been as supportive as he can be being a few thousand miles away now.

The first person I came out to was my ex fiancé. Then second was my sister followed by my ex wife, and a couple friends from High school. My ex-fiance really pushed me and helped me come out to everyone after I came out to her. I didn't have any plan on coming out to her just kind of spilled the beans one night when we we're on the phone talking after our 1st break up.

I'm out to just about to everyone in my life now with the exception of 5-10 people at work. It definitely gets easier and easier the more you do it.

Let's see, the first person I told was an online friend. I had them log into Second Life to meet me there, and when I showed up looking like a guy it was an "Aha"-moment.

The first person I told outside of the computerized world was my GP, for a referral. Then my son, so he'd stop assuming every new pair of boxer briefs to enter the house was for him. Then my mother, so my son would have someone to rant to should he want to. A few months later my dad and siblings. They all took it well. I've been ridiculously fortunate.

The first person my fiance told was me, and this happened in a sort of roundabout way at first as she was still trying to figure out what she was thinking and feeling. After a few months, she gave me permission to talk to one of my close friends, which I needed to do to set up a support network in case of emergency. I chose her because she has been part of the LGBT community for a long time, and she has always been supportive of people, she can keep a secret, and she knows me well enough to recognize when I'm just having an emotional outburst and when I'm actually in need of help dealing with a situation. I haven't needed help so far, but there's no telling what is to come.

We're getting married in December, and we plan to tell our parents and my brother after the wedding for several reasons: first, we wanted to avoid any fallout from ruining the wedding for anyone. It is important to all of our parents, and so we want them to be able to enjoy the moment without emotional stress. Second, we need to tell them close enough to the wedding that they understand that I knew what I was getting myself into from the start. If we tell my mother too far after the wedding, she will feel like I've been trapped into the situation and will have a harder time accepting it. Third, we don't live near any of our parents, and it is important that we tell them this in person, and the wedding will give us that opportunity. It may not go favorably, but they will have the opportunity to ask questions and have emotional outbursts at us, and whatever else they may need to do.

Quote from: AnOwlForTara on October 15, 2012, 10:24:07 AM
The first person my fiance told was me, and this happened in a sort of roundabout way at first as she was still trying to figure out what she was thinking and feeling. After a few months, she gave me permission to talk to one of my close friends, which I needed to do to set up a support network in case of emergency. I chose her because she has been part of the LGBT community for a long time, and she has always been supportive of people, she can keep a secret, and she knows me well enough to recognize when I'm just having an emotional outburst and when I'm actually in need of help dealing with a situation. I haven't needed help so far, but there's no telling what is to come.

We're getting married in December, and we plan to tell our parents and my brother after the wedding for several reasons: first, we wanted to avoid any fallout from ruining the wedding for anyone. It is important to all of our parents, and so we want them to be able to enjoy the moment without emotional stress. Second, we need to tell them close enough to the wedding that they understand that I knew what I was getting myself into from the start. If we tell my mother too far after the wedding, she will feel like I've been trapped into the situation and will have a harder time accepting it. Third, we don't live near any of our parents, and it is important that we tell them this in person, and the wedding will give us that opportunity. It may not go favorably, but they will have the opportunity to ask questions and have emotional outbursts at us, and whatever else they may need to do.

Lovely. I wish you both great happiness and joy. You both deserve it and you are a bright light in the world.

Love to you both.

Cindy

Best wishes t both of you too.
Apart from my son who transitioned a few years before me, a couple of really close women friends I worked with.
After I went FT I sent or handed a letter to everyone I thought should know.  As most of them are medical scientists it went absolutely perfectly.

Karen.

My brother. I was very nervous about talking to him at first. I mean very very nervous. But, the bigger deal I made out of it, the more he was worried that it was something entirely different.

He's been super supportive the entire time and has given me so much advice. I don't regret telling him at all.

I recently have been telling the people I trust with information, including two online friends, one long-distance friend, my mother, and three friends from school. I plan on telling one or two more peoples, but after this I'm going to wait until I start doing any kind of transitioning to say anything to anyone else. 

I remember when I told a friend in October 2011 through texting before i fell to sleep. "I'm born in wrong body. I'm going to be a girl". she was the first to know. And shortly i texted another friend same night. Both of them were surprised, but said the same thing. If this is what could me happy, do it. Next day, I told one of my art teacher cause I felt that I was in need to relelase the pressure. I talked like for 30 min and I didn't even know if the words that came out of my mouth makes any sense, cause this was the first time i told to anyone in person besides from texting. My teacher was open minded and very supportive. She knew herself a transsexual in person, so this wasn't new for her. And my therapist was next. As soon I told her, she said that I was going to be replaced to another therapist who has the experience and education to talk to people who are TS.

And next step was to tell was everyone at my work. I was waiting for my boss to set up a meeting for everyone. But unfortnately, that meeting never came. But instead the headquarter put up a education lesson for our district in late May. I remember when we got 15 min break during the education, and I told my boss for a private chat. I remember how nervous I was. And when the education was over, the moment has come. My hand was shaking and finally I had 13 faces looking at me. " blah bla blah...I'm going to get a sex change" and there was a silence for seconds. So since then I was officially out. My co-workers still having problem with name and pronoun.

Also...I was living with my exgirlfriend until December 2011. I told her and she was not happy. This girl have some serious issues with moral. She thinks that it's cute, adorable, brave when gay guys hold their hands and kiss in public, but she also thinks at the same time that it's so damn disguisting and that homo/bisexuality is very sick. She wondered why I haven't told her earlier...

My mom, well. She reacted bad. And never got a feeling that she is beeing supportive. But I never got any real support since I came out. It's a difference with support over the internet and in real life. Always been supporting myself and alone in this journey.

I told my fiance first.