I realized I was part of the LGBTQ+ community when I was fifteen. Back home, I had a close friend who was a lesbian, and one day she told me to try dating girls. At first, I didn’t want to. It felt wrong to me, especially because my family was very active in the church. But despite my hesitation, I eventually talked to a girl — it only lasted three days. Then, another girl came into my life who showed genuine care for me, and she somehow made me realize that I wasn’t straight. That’s when my story as a bisexual began.
At first, I thought it was just a phase. I kept trying to convince myself that it would go away, but deep down, I knew it wouldn’t. Over time, I learned to accept it. To accept myself and to understand that being part of the rainbow community is not something to hide or be ashamed of.
My coming out wasn’t really loud or direct. I never sat down and said it to my mom or family. It just happened naturally when I brought my then-girlfriend to family gatherings and introduced her like any other person I cared about. I think that’s when they knew, even without me saying anything.
Years later, when I moved to Canada, one of my aunts joked that maybe my next partner should be a guy. That’s when I realized they already knew, and they had accepted it in their own quiet way. I didn’t need to explain or defend myself, they simply let me be. That moment felt like a heavy rope was loosened around my neck. I finally felt free.
To everyone in the LGBTQ+ community, I want to say this: be yourself, and take the risk even if it scares you. Do it scared. And to those who are still figuring things out, listen to your heart. Let it guide you. The world doesn’t define who you are, and people’s words will never define your worth. You are who you are meant to be.