Allie Iverson’s Coming Out Story

When I was 15, I was struggling with depression and anxiety… (still am!) It got so bad that my mom put me in treatment. I was there for 6 months. I did a lot of learning there, and a lot of self-work. My main goal was just to be happy and feel like I could do life again.

But as I was stripping down to the core of myself, doing the healing I so badly needed, I uncovered this part of me that’s always been here; just suppressed. That was the first time I felt comfortable to tell myself “I’m bisexual!”. 

“I’m so boy crazy… right?”

Backtracking to 6th grade, that would mean I was about 11. I caught feelings for my best friend. We would have sleepovers, kiss each other, but not loud enough for our other friends to hear. I would wake up in the morning with her arm around me, being my big spoon, and I would absolutely freak out. There’s no way I was about to be into girls! I mean c’mon… I’m so boy crazy… right?

Going to treatment and dealing with such extreme emotions and mental health issues at such a young age was so hard for me, but accepting myself FULLY for who I was, was the most rewarding of that whole experience. And I got to meet some pretty damn awesome people too. 

I first told my mom when I was still in treatment. We were having dinner, and I just spit it out. I’m not one to really keep things to myself, especially after learning what I’ve been learning in my group; I found this radical honestly and confidence. My mom was okay with it.

She asked a lot of questions. I’m 22 now, and she still asks a lot of god damn questions. “so, are you lesbian, bisexual, or what, Allie?” and it’s like, Mom, I have no fucking idea. I guess you could say I’m pansexual, and polyamorous. And that just leads to more questions. Lol. She accepts me, though. That’s all I care about.

My dad was a little different. He’s the kind of guy that wants little to no information, but also wants me to know I can do whatever I want, whenever I want. He shows me the respect without words. He’s a simple man. I texted him a few weeks after I told my mom. I said “hey dad, I’m lesbian, I think. love you!” and he says “awesome, kiddo. you rock. love you too.” That was pretty much it. 

“You have the power within yourself to BE yourself”

I got lucky with the family I have. The occasional nagging of my moms questions, and the occasional *timid* comment from my dad balances eachother out. They’re pretty funny, pretty damn supportive, and they just want me to be happy. And that’s all I want too. I’ve been dating my partner, Kc, for 5 and a half years now. She’s my other half. She’s my rock, but she lets me be wild. I don’t know what I did to be this lucky, but I’m not complaining.

I’ve never told this story before, much less wrote about it. To anyone reading, find your strength, and don’t forget it. You have the power within yourself to BE yourself. I love you. 

Coming out stories