Coming Out Stories

Ahead of a brand new season, we’re celebrating some of our favourite episodes! Divina de Campo “If ever there was a little queerdo kid – it was me” Star of The Voice and runner-up in the first ever Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK, Divina de Campo talks about coming out as gay and then non-binary and offers some great advice on WHEN to come out. Presented by Emma Goswell Produced by Sam Walker We'd lov...

Ahead of a brand new season, we’re celebrating some of our favourite episodes! Angela and Lucia  “Doctors tried to give me a lobotomy because I was gay”   Two absolutely incredible women tell their coming out stories and also stories of being lesbian activists in Manchester in the 1970s and how the Gay Liberation Front changed the lives of LGBT people across the country. Presented by Emma Goswell...

Jacob “Before I go into a public toilet I have to think: is there anyone in there who could hurt me?”   In a beautifully honest interview Jacob talks about coming out to themselves and then to their family, just four weeks before this interview. Presented by Emma Goswell Produced by Sam Walker We'd love to hear YOUR story.  Please get in touch www.comingoutstoriespodcast.com or find us on twi...

Ahead of a brand new season, we’re celebrating some of our favourite episodes! Asad “Before you come out, you assume the worst of the people you love.  That’s really hard”  Asad grew up in a British Pakistani Muslim household and feared the worst when coming out to his parents.  So much so, he packed a bag and had a friend wait outside in his car, ready to escape. Presented by Emma Goswell Produce...

Ahead of a brand new season, we’re celebrating some of our favourite episodes! JJ “I was scared to tell my wife how good it felt to wear a dress”  JJ, or Jessie, is a gas fitter from Manchester who is happily married to a woman and has two children. But they identify as non-binary or gender fluid and were terrified they would lose their family when they came out. Presented by Emma Goswell Produced...

Ahead of a brand new season, we’re celebrating some of our favourite episodes! Dean “I remember regularly being called a fa**ot at just 9 years old”  In this episode, actor and BBC Radio 1 presenter Dean McCullough talks about growing up as "Gay Dean" in Belfast in the 90s and 00s  Presented by Emma Goswell Produced by Sam Walker We'd love to hear YOUR story.  Please get in touch ww...

Tracey “I came home to find my son on the sofa with his school friend.  I could feel the chemistry between them.  It was a real lightbulb moment for me” It’s the final episode of our “Meet the Parents” season, where you’ve been hearing from the families of LGBTQIA+ folks about their experiences of having a child come out to them. On this episode, meet Tracey, mum to Jake, who came out to her at 12...

Des “When my sons first came out, I had to re-evaluate the ideas I had held about the lives they would lead. That took time" On this season of Coming Out Stories, we’re going to “Meet the Parents!” Over the next six episodes, you’ll hear to hear from the families of LGBTQIA+ folks about their experiences of having a child come out to them. On this episode, meet Des, dad to not one, but two ga...

Sarah “I really wish as a family we’d had conversations about LGBT+ lives with all our children much earlier on” On this season of Coming Out Stories, we’re going to “Meet the Parents!” Over the next six episodes, you’ll hear to hear from the families of LGBTQIA+ folks about their experiences of having a child come out to them. On this episode, meet Sarah, mum to the child she affectionately calls...

Aruna   “He started crying and asked me 'mum, do you still love me?  Are you ashamed of me?' " On this season of Coming Out Stories, we’re going to “Meet the Parents!” Over the next six episodes, you’ll hear to hear from the families of LGBTQIA+ folks about their experiences of having a child come out to them. On this episode, meet the supermum from Mumbai, Aruna. She not only accep...

Marilyn “I didn’t realise they were both struggling with their sexuality, although looking back, all the signs were there” On this season of Coming Out Stories, we’re going to “Meet the Parents!” Over the next six episodes, you’ll hear to hear from the families of LGBTQIA+ folks about their experiences of having a child come out to them. On this episode, meet Marilyn. She is a single mum to a son...

Bruce “We had no idea he was crying himself to sleep every night"  On this season of Coming Out Stories, we’re going to “Meet the Parents!” Over the next six episodes, you’ll hear to hear from the families of LGBTQIA+ folks about their experiences of having a child come out to them. Today, one of the most extraordinary changes of heart we've ever heard.  Bruce was a Pentecostal Minister,...

Jackie “I realised that the magazine I found under my son's bed was not a body building magazine..." We’re back for Season Three! This time on Coming Out Stories, we’re going to “Meet the Parents!” Over the next six episodes, you’ll hear to hear from the families of LGBTQIA+ folks about their experiences of having a child come out to them. Today, meet Jackie.  Around 20 years ago she set...

Annie “When my child was three she told me she didn't want to wear 'boys' clothes anymore" We’re back for Season Three! This time on Coming Out Stories, we’re going to “Meet the Parents!” Over the next six episodes, you’ll hear to hear from the families of LGBTQIA+ folks about their experiences of having a child come out to them. As ever, there will be laughter, tears, perhaps...

Stevie “When I came out to my mum as gay she said "Is that because you can't get a boyfriend?" In our final episode of season two, meet Stevie! Podcaster and musician Stevie came out twice to their family, firstly as gay, then as non-binary. If you are the parent of an LGBTQ+ person, or you identify in that way and your parent would like to speak to us for our next season, please do...

Stephen “I didn't know what intersex even meant, until I discovered it was who I am" Founder of Surrey Pride, Stephen, only discovered he was intersex after a diagnosis of bowel cancer when he found out that his parents had chosen to raise him as a male.   For more information on being intersex click here. Presented by Emma Goswell Produced by Sam Walker We'd love to hear YOUR story...

Marie “Even today, my kids say to me, Mommy, you're not gay" Marie is a grandmother, who grew up in the Bronx in New York City and she didn't come out until her 50s. For more information on the organisation SAGE click here Presented by Emma Goswell Produced by Sam Walker We'd love to hear YOUR story.  Please get in touch www.comingoutstoriespodcast.com or find us on twitter @Co...

Alex “I remember thinking: 'When I grow up I want to be a girl'" Alex is a trans woman who grew up changing into dresses the moment she got home from her all-boys school, but knew it "wasn't what boys should do". She is also the host of the "She Said, They said" podcast . For more information on the charity Mermaids, click here Presented by Emma Goswell Prod...

David “My wife found my chatroom history, that's how I came out to her" David spent many years married to a woman and being a stay at home dad to his children.  He didn't come out until he was 55. He is the author of the book "How to Tell your LGBTQ+ Story" Presented by Emma Goswell Produced by Sam Walker We'd love to hear YOUR story.  Please get in touch www.comingou...

Faz “I was struggling with my identity at six years old" Faz is a shia muslim of Pakistani heritage, who came out first as gay and then as a trans man.  He has been homeless several times throughout his life and now works as a trustee for the Albert Kennedy Trust Presented by Emma Goswell Produced by Sam Walker We'd love to hear YOUR story.  Please get in touch www.comingoutstoriespodcas...

Lorelei “Discovering that I was trans gave me back my life." Lorelei is a trans woman who lives in Bolton in England and she’s a cosplayer, musician and former musical theatre actress.  She  describes herself as a goth gremlin version of Elvira!   Presented by Emma Goswell Produced by Sam Walker We'd love to hear YOUR story.  Please get in touch www.comingoutstoriespodcast.com or find us...

Melissa “The moment she kissed me, I felt an enormous sense of relief." Melissa Ferrick is an award-winning singer-songwriter who has released seventeen albums and shared the stage with with Morrissey, Tegan and Sara,  and many more! They came out as queer many years ago and has recently began to identify as gender non-conforming. Presented by Emma Goswell Produced by Sam Walker We'd lov...

Aidy “My online boyfriend turned out to be a woman!" Aidy Smith is the Wine and Spirits columnist for The Independent and host of The Three Drinkers on Amazon Prime. He grew up in Yorkshire and had to come out twice in less than a minute to his family! Presented by Emma Goswell Produced by Sam Walker We'd love to hear YOUR story.  Please get in touch www.comingoutstoriespodcast.com or fi...

Lee “My Dad told me as a kid, you can be anything in life, but don't be a lesbian." This week, meet Lee, a real LA woman! Lee identifies as a lesbian, but it took her a long time to realise she was gay.  Wait until you hear what her mother-in-law had to say when she came out!  It's a Coming Out Stories first! Presented by Emma Goswell Produced by Sam Walker We'd love to hear YO...

Val  “Don't be afraid to be Muslim and gay. You can be both" The provocatively name Val Qaeda is a Muslim drag queen who was thrown out of home for being gay.  After staying with grandparents, Val was then attacked by their grandad and forced to run away. A truly inspiring and moving story of great resilience. Presented by Emma Goswell Produced by Sam Walker We'd love to hear YOUR s...