I came out to my folks very, very, very, very, very recently after years on hormones and not telling them. Unfortunately, it has been a nightmare for me and I'm horribly depressed about it, but I'd do it a thousand times again and it'd still be worth it.

Personally, coming out has honestly felt like a gorilla glue bandaid. I knew what I was getting into, but the wound underneath was healed and it needed to come off. The moments prior to coming out felt like that moment you're about to rip a bandaid off but then I just let go of my letter and did it - painfully peeled the bandaid off in one clean swoop.

But that after sting of ripping off the bandaid has been so liberating. I've genuinely learned so much about myself from this, especially in terms of my strength and will to stand up for myself. I feel free to be myself without pretending to be someone I'm not anymore for someone else's sake. And I guess I was willing to exchange the hassle that comes with pretending to be someone I'm not for the hassles that come with coming out and being myself.

Sorry for turning this into a diary comment but I hope this has been insightful. All-in-all, go at your own pace and when you're ready. It's a process. Thanks for reading my TedTalk.