What helped you accept your own sexuality and gender identity?

Realizing I can't change the way I feel and that the only way for me to be happy is to be true to myself. People surprised me with their support once I started opening up, it almost made me wonder why I had waited for so long.

When I was in 8th grade, I always had a cloud over my head. It appeared as a guy and girl figure fighting over my head at night. I then dismissed it. Then in 9th grade, when I had a crush on a girl, I was in denial. I can't be gay!!! And then it struck me that it was ok, and I did my research. Then I learned about non binary gender, and I found that I was genderfluid. Then with that, I found I was actually pan and transgender. It was all with research and protest

Having supportive friends and family, and having the strength to stop being friends with people who didn't support me. It also helped me enormously to give myself the time and space to explore my sexuality to eventually get a better idea of what I want.

Coming from a strict Christian background, I struggled to tell my family about my feelings towards other women. I knew from a very young age that I was attracted to both sexes, but it took me time to come to terms with it. Especially because being bi was somewhat frowned upon. It was viewed more of a call for attention, or a "stage" than an actual sexual identity. I knew in my heart that it wasn't a stage, and after I came to terms with it, I realized that the only opinion on my sexual identity that really mattered was my own. Eventually, my family came to terms with it, even though it's not a topic ever discussed. But being able to let other people know who I really am, freed me.

As someone who is both a lesbian and genderfluid, I can tell you that the thing that really and truly helped me was connecting with the LGBT community. Whether it be local, or online, it really did help to talk to people who could relate to me. Ultimately it takes time, but it's definitely worth it. Love yourself- you're a beautiful person!

What helped me? Telling myself that I was amazing as who I truly am, and not as who my parents/peers wanted me to be. And knowing that in the end, I'm more comfortable expressing myself as me. It's hard to pretend to be someone your not! Especially when you have to do it all the time!

For me, I think it was just a matter of time. And honestly, I'm still a work in progress. I have days where I feel ashamed or I find myself lying about my sexuality to fit in, but I've gotten better. Another important thing that helped me was surrounding myself with positive people, people who loved me regardless of my sexuality. It can be really hard to accept yourself if you are around people are not accepting (though sometimes this can't be changed if you live at home, etc. etc.). Lastly, I would say find role models in the LGBT community. If you don't have any in your real life, look to people online or in the media. Sometimes it helps to look up to someone who is LGBT and is also so many other things and to see how they are living openly.

So to start- I identify as a lesbian as well as nonbinary. Since I knew of other people and friends who were gay or bisexual, it was easy for me to feel like it was ok for me to like girls the way I did. It took me a lot longer to come to terms with my gender. A lot of it was just realizing that I wasn't alone and there were tons of other people who felt the same way I did. I was watching a YouTube video specifically about Pride, and there were about 10-15 LGBT+ people in this video, helping to make the audience feel that they were accepted and loved for who they were. If there's no one in your life who can relate, try connecting with someone here who does. One social media platform where I found a lot acceptance was Tumblr, but just remember to stay safe :)

Connecting with others, who provided me with knowledge and acceptance, if not face-to-face, than by books and articles, forums and chats.

The self-confidence and self-acceptance helped me accept my own sexuality and gender identity. The confidence in myself and my choices made me accept myself easily.