Coming Out As Trans At School || Wish I Knew

#WishIKnew

Hello I'm your true--

Wait, it's not Queer Karaoke night. Oops.

What's up, my people? Y'all may or may not know me as Min, and turn on your location, I just want to talk.

As you might've guessed from the flags next to my name when I post this, or my pronouns, or my bio, or my profile pic, or from talking to me for 5 minutes, I am unapologetically out online. Until recently, this wasn't reflected in my IRL life.

But sadly, today I'm not here to talk about coming out to *everyone*. Today, we're just talking about school. Let's get into this, shall we?

At home, my family calls me by my birthname. I am out to my mom as nonbinary, and she knows I use the name "Min" online, but she doesn't call me that, and I'm often referred to in feminine ways, so both times now that I've gone through the college issions process, I've used my full first name. I'd read about coming out to teachers, but didn't think I'd ever have the guts to do it.

I didn't use my preferred name or pronouns until the second semester, but oh goodness did it feel good to be referred to properly at school, even with the worry that it would get back to my parents.

Anyways, here's what I wish I knew before coming out at school:

🏳‍ :rainbow: 1. If the teachers ask, they will do their best to call you what you want to be called.

🏳‍ :rainbow: 2. If you live in a relatively accepting area, or attend school in one, the amount of weird looks you'll get are kept to a minimum.

🏳‍ :rainbow: 3. Even if you don't that well, if you ask, most people will try. I couldn't and therefore didn't try to seem androgynous, but the people that mattered didn't care or stare.

🏳‍ :rainbow: 4. There are probably more trans and nonbinary people than you think; my first semester, the one trans guy thought he was the only trans person in class until I mentioned I was nonbinary. It made things a little easier for both of us.

🏳‍ :rainbow: 5. If you went by your birth name and pronouns before, old classmates may still call you that. Be patient and remind them when they mess up and they'll adapt.

🏳‍ :rainbow: 6. Have confidence. If you have to, fake it. Everything is easier with confidence. If you can't fake it, then say please a lot. Teachers, at least, respond well.

🏳‍ :rainbow: 7. , this is you. You can only truly be yourself at the end of the day. It's not always easy, but I believe in you, even if you don't believe in yourself. Teachers are much more willing to accommodate you than you may think, and for the most part your classmates will be accepting, if a little undereducated. Judge your environment and know your audience, be safe, and be you.

That's it for today, Fam. May you all always be able to live authentically and happily.