It felt traumatizing for me.

My Mom forced me out of the transition closet. She found hormones and breast forms. She was in shock for a few months. Like she did with her Mom, I never came out of the homo closet to my Mom.

Well I just recently told my two best friends, one I live with and the other is my oldest friend from childhood. They both seemed rather unsurprised they said they always sort of saw me as one of the girls anyway and they expected that something along these lines would happen eventually. My oldest friend in particular said she had always noticed how I never fit in very well with Gay men and that she thought something else was up. She also brought up stuff from our childhood that I had forgotten like how when I was 5 or 6 I got in trouble with my mom for getting into her makeup and jewelry one time and wasn't allowed to play for the rest of the day because of it and how when we were in elementary school and would play pretend games I always wanted to be the girl even when I was playing with other girls and how once I practically begged her to play the boy part in our pretend game so I could be the girl. It kind of brought home just how deep this thing has ran for all these years. They are the only two people I have told so far though and they are very supportive but it's my family that I'm really worried about. My mother in particular is going to be devastated.

The first person I told was my friend Carl.  Although I didn't officially say I was Transgender, I just told him I always felt like I male.  He actually could relate and he said he had always felt the same, but opposite.  He had researched surgery and everything so telling him was reassuring.  But the 1st person I actually officially came out as Trans to was actually 2 people--my brother and sister-in-law, both of which were/are wicked supportive and my brother actually helped me research the names of the doctors that I got from my therapist which was cool. 

The first person I told was my mum. I wasn't sure she would understand but I knew that she would be accepting. It was a relief to be out to her, she's been my greatest ally. Even if she hadn't been supportive I would have still transitioned but I wouldn't be as far along as I am now, I think I would have held off for a while.

The first person I ever told was my girlfriend. She didn't really know how to take it but we are still together (I told her about 3 years ago now) so that's good. I've been super selective of who I've come out to so far. Only a few other friends know and so far the support has been pretty good.

Wow, I'm actually not that selective. two months after I told the first person, 14 people know about it already. I wonder if that's a bad thing... Most people either accept it right away, or dont believe me because I tend to joke around a lot... lols

Quote from: Keri Allison on December 14, 2011, 08:58:01 PM
Wow, I'm actually not that selective. two months after I told the first person, 14 people know about it already. I wonder if that's a bad thing... Most people either accept it right away, or dont believe me because I tend to joke around a lot... lols

To each their own. It's not a bad thing if you start telling more people as long as you're doing because YOU want to. I'm just a little (ok, super) afraid to really let myself out there at once.

Quote from: Keri Allison on December 14, 2011, 08:58:01 PM
Wow, I'm actually not that selective. two months after I told the first person, 14 people know about it already. I wonder if that's a bad thing... Most people either accept it right away, or dont believe me because I tend to joke around a lot... lols

After I came out wanting to transition both socially and medically, I was out to over 100 people in about 2 weeks. I was out as genderqueer but still presenting as female and going by feminine pronouns, so coming out wasn't particularly hard other than the first 5 people or so I came out to. Each definitely to their own, it ain't a bad thing if that's what you wanna do!

QuoteWow, I'm actually not that selective. two months after I told the first person, 14 people know about it already. I wonder if that's a bad thing... Most people either accept it right away, or dont believe me because I tend to joke around a lot... lols

I'm going to agree with the others, and I can't fault the number of people you've told since I was even less selective.  Less than one month after that conversation with a friend I participated as a Drag King in Acting Out, our campus GSM group's major event. In front of over 70 people I was asked why I should win the contest. I told them I shouldn't everyone else created a persona for this event, I was just being myself. From that day on I mandated those around me use male names with the exception of the family reunion that summer which was a failed attempt to play female to placate others.

Now I've run educational events on trans issues, presented anti-trans bias training I helped develop for audience ranging from 5-50 people and will be presenting a workshop on non-binary sex/gender for a regional conference if February.

When I decided to out myself I did it loud and made sure that I was comfortable with others knowing. It was weird the first two or three times someone approached me about it without me telling them, but I quickly grew used to it.

I think coming out is a unique process, and there is no right or wrong way. Mine worked for me, if you don't mind 14 people knowing, go for. Hell if you want 40 people to know I'm sure not going to stop you! 

The first person i mentioned anything to was a friend i met online and it was only that i thought it would be great to have been born with both. After a few years and figuring out who I am, I told my best friend who was transphobic at the time that i wanted to be on hormones, he was horrified but eventually he became ok with it and is prolly now my biggest supporter. Ive since come out to my close friends and plan on coming out to everyone after i start HRT which should be real soon.

The first person I told was my little brother. We had always been close even seperated by five years. He used to trade me his cars and super chuck norris action figure (geeky but hey) for the dolls and my lil ponies my rents insisted on giving me lol. He took it well, totally accepted it and we are still really close. He keeps trying to get me to be his wingman so he can pick up chicks. lol I love my bro!

First person I told was my little sister

We are very close... and well...  she has been around for me doing and considering a lot more crazier things than just taking female hormones to change my body and mind

Her reaction was basically "that makes sense, you have always been better at being a girl than me" lol

Firstly told to my first-girlfriend-in-life. We're best friends, she's also works with TG topic at university.  I tried to watch the ground or ceiling, as much as embarassed I was... It was something like this:
- Erm...
- Yes?
- Well... Erm...
- Mm?
- D'you remember what you asked when we first made love?
- Of course. *blushing* B-but how this came into your mind?
- Erm... you asked that what gender role we had. We declared that none of us was a man or a woman.
- That's totally normal, I think!
- Yeah... you know, I felt neutral. It was just... damn good. Nothing binary, because-they-said-so stuff...
- Yeah...
- I've been thinking about my gender since then.
- But you were with her... X?
- Erm... Complicated. I've never felt that I'm a woman.
- Neither I felt you were - are  a woman.
- Thanks.
*blushing, blushing, blushing*

I wanna come back to her. 

  My mom.

  Joelene

 My sister, when I was seven. I then made her promise never to tell my mom...

And that's what I will regret for the rest of my life.

Just got done telling my mom. Aside from a drunken slip last night, she's the first "conversation". I want to tell everyone now... but that's probably a terrible idea

My mom when I was about fourteen. All she told me was, "Not now." She left for work and that was that. Back into the closet for a decade.

Partner was the first, then didn't tell anyone for years. First person after that was a professor I trusted, and that was when I was ready to come out to all.

My best friend Keith, he kinda almost guessed it.
He knew something was up, and kept asking questions but couldn't quite put his finger on it.
Then one day I just told him and he said everything just made more sense now.
He's basically the reason I've gotten where I'm at today.
Couldn't thank him enough.