History Main / ComingOutStory

* SouthOfNowhere is pretty much ComingOutStory: TheSeries. [[spoiler:The first season is all about Spencer developing and learning to accept her feelings for Ashley, and end with them getting together. The second season is all about coming out to her family and friends and dealing with other peoples reaction and homophobia and ends with her and Ashley going to the Prom together. The third season is all about Ashley being out and Proud, calling out her mother's homophobia, going to Pride, getting LGBT-friends and so on.]] She never has any big "I am Gay"-scene, since pretty much everyone she knows figures it out on their own or by walking in on her and Ashley in compromising situations. The closet thing she has is when she was given the chanse to deny it and chose not to.

''The'' LGBT story trope. Used at least once for almost every LGBT character ever, but most often seen with lesbian or gay characters, due to the NoBisexuals trope and trans characters still being rare as well. While coming out certainly happens in real life, the coming out story trope has certain standard stereotypical notes that every telling of it hits, no matter who the characters involved are. Although there are only so many variations you can do with it, you can be assured that any LGBT cast member of a show will relate it to someone at one point, or have it shown on person in their life will wholeheartedly support them, while at least another will turn out to be homophobic (even if they gave no indication of ever being so in the past) and will hate them. When parents are involved, they will either furiously throw their own child out of the home for this revelation, or reveal that they suspected all along, but were content to wait for their child to feel comfortable enough to admit it. Also usually includes a hate crime somewhere in the story.

* There are also some books of gay men's coming out stories, for example [http://www.amazon.com/Boys-Like-Us-Writers-Stories/dp/0380788357/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1382726840&sr=1-2&keywords=gay+men+coming+out Boys Like Us: Gay Writers Tell Their Coming Out Stories]].

** Played much more [[IncrediblyLamePun straight]] with Nanase, even though almost everyone knew anyway.

* There are quite a few books of true lesbian coming out stories, for example this one called [[http://www.amazon.com/Testimonies-Lesbian-Coming-Out-Stories--Updated-Revised/dp/1555835465/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1282162105&sr=1-2 Testimonies: Lesbian Coming-Out Stories]].
* There's at least one book with true bisexual men's coming out stories, called [[http://www.amazon.com/Bi-Men-Coming-Every-Which/dp/1560236159/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1381873148&sr=1-1&keywords=bi+men+coming+out Bi Men: Coming Out Every Which Way]]

* [[http://www.amazon.com/Testimonies-Lesbian-Coming-Out-Stories--Updated-Revised/dp/1555835465/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1282162105&sr=1-2 Here's]] a book of true lesbian coming out stories.

* There's at least one book of true bisexual men's coming out stories, called [[http://www.amazon.com/Bi-Men-Coming-Every-Which/dp/1560236159/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1381873148&sr=1-1&keywords=bi+men+coming+out Bi Men: Coming Out Every Which Way]]

''The'' LGBT story trope. Used at least once for almost every LGBT character ever. While it certainly happens in real life, it has certain standard stereotypical notes that every telling of it hits, no matter who the characters involved are. Although there are only so many variations you can do with it, you can be assured that any LGBT cast member of a show will relate it to someone at one point, or have it shown on person in their life will wholeheartedly support them, while at least another will turn out to be homophobic (even if they gave no indication of ever being so in the past) and will hate them. When parents are involved, they will either furiously throw their own child out of the home for this revelation, or reveal that they suspected all along, but were content to wait for their child to feel comfortable enough to admit it. Also usually includes a hate crime somewhere in the story.

* Although ''[[spoiler:{{VideoGame/GoneHome}}]]'' seems like a horror story, it's actually one of these, [[spoiler:about your sister realizing that she is in love with her (female) best friend.]]

'''Emily:''' But what if I’m wrong? What if I’m... ''not'' … that person? \\

'''J.J:''' About what? \\

'''Emily:''' Well, I haven't... look, leave me alone. \\

--->[Kate enters her father's garage]
--->'''Dad:''' Kate? This is a surprise. Shouldn't you be attending class? Are you on pass?
--->'''Kate:''' No, sir. I've been separated from the Army.
--->'''Dad:''' What? What happened?
--->'''Kate:''' Colonel Reyes informed me I was under investigation for violating Article 125. I couldn't say what he needed to hear.
--->'''Dad:''' Article 125... that is Homosexual Conduct.
--->'''Kate:''' Yes, sir.
--->'''Dad:''' Why couldn't you tell him what he needed to hear?
--->'''Kate:''' [Raises her sun-glasses, looks him straight in the eyes] I'd have been lying.
--->[BeatPanel of Dad carefully cleaning his hands, processing this.]
--->'''Dad:''' Then you kept your honor and your integrity. I'm proud of you. [[SoProudOfYou Your mother would have been too.]]

-->'''Chelsea:''' I think it is really great that you are planning this party for Ashley.
-->'''Spencer:''' Yeah well, she is my best friend.
-->'''Chelsea:''' [coyly] Isn't she more than just a friend?
-->'''Spencer:''' Uh... yeah... [starts to grin like a loon]... YES!

-->"I... I don't know what to say. I mean, you know, you're married to someone for six years, and you think you know him, and then one day says, 'Oh, I'm not gay.'"
-->Phoebe: "Do your parents know?"
-->"Duncan: "No, but it'll be OK, they're pretty cool, my brother's straight so. . ."

-->'''Emily:''' It's hard telling people about yourself isn't it? But I am going to try. It's no big deal. You probably couldn't care less.
-->'''J.J:''' About what?
-->'''Emily:''' ... I want to have sex with girls.
-->'''J.J:''' ...Right.
-->'''Emily:''' [years of secrets pours out of her] Yeah, I like girls. I like sex '''with''' girls. I like their rosy lips, their hard nipples, bums, soft tights. I like tits and fannys, you know... There... I said it, and now...
-->[J.J passes out]
-->'''Emily:''' Oh fucking hell...
-->...
-->'''Mom:''' What have you been doing?
-->'''Emily:''' Nothing.
-->'''Mom:''' Well, it looks like you have been fighting.
-->'''Emily:''' Well, I haven't... look, leave me alone.
-->'''Mom:''' Is it a boy that upset you?
-->'''Katie:''' [Who has just realized Emilys deal]: Mum, I don't think she wants to talk about it.
-->'''Mom:''' I do. 'cause if it's been a boy thats been... You looks like you've been roughed up; so just tell me.
-->'''Emily:''' ...It wasn't a boy.
-->'''Katie:''' There, see, so...
-->'''Emily:''' It was a girl.
-->'''Dad:''' You've been fighting with a girl? That's not very ladylike.
-->'''Emily:''' No Dad. I've been making love to a girl. Okay? Everybody satisfied?
-->[stunned silence]
-->'''Katie:''' She is such a liar. Don't listen to her...
-->'''Emily:''' Her name is Naomi. She's rather beautiful. So I was nailing her.
-->'''Dad:''' [Long pause, then he starts grinning] Okay, I got it.. Nice one. had me going there. I've got to mind my own business. Funny. You've got to give it to her! Convincing!
-->'''Emily:''' Dad, I am trying to tell you...
-->'''Katie:''' Shut up!
-->[Emily flees the table.]
-->'''James:''' [nonchalant] [[FromTheMouthsOfBabes Gordon Macpherson says you call them dykes because you have to stick your finger in them.]]

-->'''Kenny:''' So, how do you know if you're gay? You know, hypothetically speaking, how do you know?
-->'''Dave:''' I dunno, man, it's kinda like an instinct thing. Y'know, it's like ice cream. [[NoBisexuals You either like chocolate or you like vanilla]]. Which flavor do you like?
-->'''Kenny:''' ''(offhandedly)'' I don't know, which one's the gay flavor? ''(beat, then covers his mouth in shock)''
-->'''Dave:''' So what are you sayin' here, Kenny?
-->'''Kenny:''' I guess I'm saying I'm...I'm gay.

'''Emily:''' But what if I’m wrong? What if I’m... ''not'' … that person? \\

'''Emily:''' Rally? [[{{Gaynsgt}} Have you even met my parents?]] [[MilitaryBrat Mr. and Mrs. Military and their perfect daughter...]]

''The'' LGBT story trope. Used at least once for almost every LGBT character ever. While it certainly happens in real life, it has certain standard stereotypical notes that every telling of it hits, no matter who the characters involved are. Although there are only so many variations you can do with it, you can be assured that any LGBT cast member of a show will relate it to someone at one point, or have it shown on screen.

Inevitably, at least one person in their life will wholeheartedly support them, while at least another will turn out to be homophobic (even if they gave no indication of ever being so in the past) and will hate them. When parents are involved, they will either furiously throw their own child out of the home for this revelation, or reveal that they suspected all along, but were content to wait for their child to feel comfortable enough to admit it. Also usually includes a hate crime somewhere in the story.

** He actually comes out multiple times in the book; once, he comes out to his best friend, is confused when she doesn't care, and then has a mini panic attack when she tells her parents. Leads to a CrowningMomentOfFunny when her 6-year-old sibling comes into the room and asks, "Did he finally tell her he's gay?" His coming out to his parents is actually interestingly subverted. He comes out to each parent separately. Both are fine with it, but warn him not to come out to the other just yet, as they don't think the other person will be as supportive.

'''Emily:''' But what if I’m wrong. What if I’m ''[[IfItsYouItsOkay not}}'' … that person? \\

'''Emily:''' Rally? [[{{Gaynsgt}} Have you even met my parents?}} [[MilitaryBrat Mr. and Mrs. Military and their perfect daughter...]]

* In ''Series/PrettyLittleLiars'' Emily was thrown out of the closet by her friend.

'''Hanna:''' Emily, you’re not signing a contract. You were Emily dating Ben and now you’re Emily dating Maya. We love Emily. No one cares who you’re with.

** Of special note in that Justin lacks the "whatever you do I'll support you" guy. He only meets Elliot (ChronicHeroSyndrome) and Nanase (At the time, his girlfriend) * after* the whole saga.

** Subverted with with Willow in Season 4. She gets the support of her friends (particularly Buffy), but there isn't a homophobic reaction in sight--there is some shock at first among her friends, but they overcome it quickly. The only person who has any kind of negative reaction is Willow's ex-boyfriend, Oz, who was interested in getting back together with her (and whose return prompted Willow to come out to Buffy). More importantly, Willow coming out is the secondary plotline of the episode.

* Spoofed in ''YoungAvengers''. The character Wiccan is reluctantly trying to tell his parents he became a superhero, but they misunderstand and assume he's coming out with his boyfriend. They're supportive of his sexuality, but no word yet on his choice of profession since he didn't get a chance to say anything about it.

* Renee Montoya, in an award winning arc of ''GothamCentral'', was involuntarily outed by Two-Face, [[StalkerWithACrush who had become obsessed with her since their encounter in]] ''BatmanNoMansLand.'' He mailed pictures of her with her girlfriend to her family and to the Major Crimes Unit, the branch of the Gotham City Police Department where she worked. Captain Maggie Sawyer, Renee's shift commander at the MCU, was already out and attempted to help guide Renee through the initial tribulations, but Renee felt that [[TwoferTokenMinority their circumstances were not comparable]]. Ultimately, [[IhaveNoSon her parents disowned her]], but she was able to find a modicum of acceptance from the cops she worked with.