LGBTQ+ & Sober: Coming Out Later In Life

Meg, this story is so close to mine it hurts. Thank you for showing me I’m not alone.

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You are definitely not alone. :heart:

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We’re still here. :two_hearts:

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This show is so very hard to watch at time but it’s life you know? Where are you streaming it from?

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No they work just fine! I wonder if I can try to find the full episodes. Also, I’m glad we have some interaction with this thread! I have been trying to connect with fellow lgbtq+ friends on here :slight_smile:

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Absolutely!

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Omg hi y’all :sob: I’m so happy about this thread and to see you all here I’m crying. I’m pansexual and have only come out to a few select friends and family members. For so long being in a relationship with a man made it feel unnecessary and uncomfortable to come out but the further along I am in sobriety it feels all the more important to my recovery and I’m just barely able to really start talking about it.

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Yay!! I’m so happy to hear from more sober people in our community :black_heart::black_heart: and thank you for opening up to us :relaxed:

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Also, if you ever needed someone to talk to I am here. It was really hard for me to come out to my family and I’m still not out with everyone. I think sometimes those things can be scary but we are allowed to be ourselves and have that happiness we want :rainbow::black_heart:

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Happy to hear you’ve found the space to embrace and love yourself :blush:

  • Another Queer Woman :rainbow_flag:
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I was here earlier on in this thread but let me say hi to you all again, and especially to you @anon42928441 ! Me myself it took till my 30th to come out as gay. My sis is a lesbian who came out after a 20 year marriage to a guy. On a side note, if I ever go back to NA, it will be to the very supportive non-dogmatic LGBTQ+ group that comes together not far from where I live. This community has its own troubles in dealing with addiction.

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@Andy_Charlie It’s really good that he has you as a supporter in the family. I think it can be also useful for him to come out to the close friends before coming out to the parents to have some emotional support when things get really tough. He may consider moving out from his parents’ place and changing jobs in the near future, because even if the family comes to terms with this, they probably will need some time for that and it can be really hurtful and tough in the meantime.

Knowing that you’re there for him must be a huge help. Meeting with other transgender folks can be really good and validating, he can find groups on facebook. Seeing a shrink is also something worth considering. There are a lot of vlogs on youtube that can be educational either for him, for you or for his family (Jackson Bird, FinnTheInfinncible, Jammidodger, ElectricDade, Sam Switz, ClosetTransgender, Alex Bertie) or vlogs with psychological approach (The Transition Channel, DR Z PHD, Dara Hoffman-Fox). For mental health I also recommend to do some sports, soccer, boxing or martial arts are good to unleash his manliness.

I don’t know whether he has already started transitioning socially, but if not, you can help him by offering him to store his male clothes, binders, etc. at your place, so he can safely wear them and change outside his home. As long as he is safe, he can take steps to transition, for e.g. by getting a sharp haircut, wearing male clothes, binding his chest, etc.

The process of the medical transition varies from country to country, usually there is a waiting list to the gender clinic, if you get in, you get diagnosed by a psycholog, and in some countries you have to live for 1 or 2 years as your real gender prior to the hormone therapy and in the meantime you keep seeing your sexolog to report them how you’re coping. At the end of this period they do some blood tests, measure bone density, there’s a check-up at the gynecologist, and a check-up at the endocrinologist. After these you can get hormone (testosterone) in gel or shots (this changes your secondary sexual characteristics) and you can apply for the waiting list for top and/or bottom surgery and/or hysterectomy. Usually you can ask for name and gender marker change, but with that he may wait until he passes as a male. But as I said, this process can be very different depending on the state you live in.

I’m not sure if I helped. If you have any question, feel free to ask.

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Thank you so much for answering!!
He actually show me that he brought a binder but its not his size anymore and because I’m working on clothes design I’m going to fix it and make another one.

For what he told me, he only has a few new friends and they know, he stop talking to the others when he broke up with his boyfriend, but the deal is the family. While he lives in that house he can’t cut his hair, my uncle doesn’t allow short hair, certain kind of clothes.
He even said shits to me because I have short hair.

He’s in the process of getting an apartment, we live 4 hours away but I told him that he can come and stay at my place, I will tell him to come soon that way we can go shopping. I know that my aunt wont have any problem and is going to be supportive but my uncle is the one that I’m worried, his brothers they don’t really have a relationship but his older brother that is my age and know that I’m a lesbian talked to me yesterday about him.

I’m going to ask to my therapist if she has someone that can recommend me.

Thank you @Tomek I will definitely ask you a couple of things later if is not a problem.

Pd: Sorry about my grammar :grinning::face_with_hand_over_mouth:

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That sucks. Moving out will definitely be a great relief for him.

No problem at all, I’m happy to help.

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Nice interview and a nice lady

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Thank you for sharing this! :black_heart::black_heart:

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This is so important! We have to keep encouraging one another and supporting each other! :black_heart::rainbow:

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Yes!! Absolutely! :clap:t3::clap:t3:

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Hey Friends, today is not a good day with everything that is happening in world. What’s happening in Ukraine, whats happening in Texas with this new anti trans laws and florida with the anti gay.

I was reading a few minutes ago, how the gov of texas is going to follow with this new disgusting law to the parents of transgender kids for child abuse and how in Florida the parents have to inform the school is gay or not. Man this break my heart because being a kid and knowing that you could be gay and that is a law against you is horrible and how they are going to arrest in rusia lgtbqi+ activist and a lot of horrible things.

I just want to send my love and a hug to everyone.

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