Coming Out: How to Navigate Your Personal Journey

“On Coming Out Day, whilst we celebrate the bravery of LGBT+ people worldwide who come out and live their truth, we also stand in solidarity with many others for whom coming out is not safe,” said UK Black Pride founder, Phyll Opoku-Gyimah.

Even though there are 63 countries where it’s against the law to have same-sex relations, there continue to be big wins for LGBTQ+ rights in countries where same-sex marriage is now legal, such as the European country of Andorra, and Estonia will make it legal in 2024! And just last week, Vacationer reported that the Supreme Court in Mauritius decriminalized same-sex relations! Yes, we’re slowly moving in the right direction, but so many people around the world are still not comfortable coming out and living their best authentic lives.  

At Vacationer, we always talk about travel, but sometimes better understanding who we are as individuals and or as LGBTQ+ folx before traveling around the world can be a defining moment. Let’s admit it – navigating your own personal journey of exploration is more important than an IRL adventure halfway around the globe. So, for people who are questioning their place in the world, we found a couple of “coming out” resources that we hope will be helpful to you.

The Trevor Project is an American nonprofit organization that focuses on suicide prevention efforts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning youth. The LGBTQ+ organization has The Coming Out Handbook to help you explore what coming out means to you with tools and guiding questions. The downloadable handbook helps you understand a few key topics including sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, transitioning, sexual attraction, and emotional attraction as well as navigating your personal decision to come out. 

The Trevor Project also operates The Trevor Lifeline (toll-free telephone number), a confidential service that offers callers an instant connection to trained counselors available 24/7, 365 days a year.  Click here to chat, call, or text someone for immediate support.

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is another American LGBTQ advocacy group and the largest LGBTQ political lobbying organization in the U.S. Well, it also has several resources, too, that delve into the different letters of our acronym (LGBTQ+): Living Authentically as Transgender or Non-Bniary, and Living Authentically as Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual+, Online Communities and LGBTQ+ Youth. Downloadable guides are also provided on the HRC’s website that address intersectionality with Living Authentically as LGBTQ Americans for Latinx, Black Americans, and Asian and Pacific Islanders). 

And across the pond in the UK, questioning folx can check out the LGBT Foundation, a Manchester-based national charity with more than 40 years of supporting the needs of the diverse range of people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans. The foundation has an advice, support, and information phone number to provide proper counseling and its website also lists a few coming-out stories in hopes that people will identify with one of the featured people. 

Stonewall is a global movement for change made up of LGBTQ+ people, our allies, families, and friends who fight for our equal rights. It has been part of every major fight for LGBTQ+ rights since 1989 – from same-sex adoption to protection from discrimination at work to LGBTQ-inclusive teaching in the national curriculum. Stonewall’s website also features personal ‘coming out’ stories and a resource to help questioning adults (in their own time) navigate their decision to come out, allowing them the freedom to be their authentic selves. 

And Gendered Intelligence, a trans-led grassroots organization, is also an important go-to resource in the UK for people who want a better understanding of gender-variant people and the lives of trans people. It offers youth and community services specifically for young trans and gender-questioning people, including ways to connect with groups in real life and online groups, and there is a calendar of events and one-on-one support if needed. Gendered Intelligence runs trans youth programs in London, Leeds, and online for a range of ages from 7 to 30. Groups are available specifically for trans people of color and transfeminine young people, too!  

In closing, we’re reminded of another quote from a previous Vacationer interview with Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, where she talks about her coming-out story and the importance of having a support system.  The Executive Director of Kaleidoscope Trust told us: “I want people to know that they are valued, and they’re seen regardless of that journey. If you are going to come out, please make sure you have your chosen family, your tribe, and your support network so you don’t feel in an isolating or what could be a soul-destroying situation like I may have felt when I came out.” 

Hopefully, our list of resources can help you with your coming-out process regardless of where you are in the world. Know that coming out can be a slow process, but there are people, tools, and resources available to help guide you along the way.