Coming Out Stories

Sam “I had a revelation about my sexuality during lockdown" Sam knew twenty years ago when she was a teenager that she was attracted to women, but it wasn't until she started an online course that she finally came out as a lesbian. 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...

Ray “I kept quiet about being gay, even to myself.  Dating some women in my teens, helped me understand who I was."  Ray is a real-life ghost hunter who had some trouble convincing his dad he was gay, as he had previously dated women. 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 @...

Raga “When I finally came out as a lesbian, my own mother threatened me with a knife"  Buckle up! This is an extraordinary story of a woman who fought for decades to live her true life. Raga was brought up in India and her mother was so shocked when Raga came out, she attacked her. Presented by Emma Goswell Produced by Sam Walker Find us on twitter @ComeOutStories and on Instagram @ComingOutS...

Jamie “I couldn't see myself living as a gay man.  I was too fearful" Out and proud musician Jamie talks about repressing his sexuality growing up and how his uncle told him he was gay, before he realised himself. Presented by Emma Goswell Produced by Sam Walker Find us on twitter @ComeOutStories and on Instagram @ComingOutStoriesPod We have a book!  Coming Out Stories is available at al...

Rhian “I was distressed about the fact that I'm asexual for a very long time" In a first for Coming Out Stories, we speak to Rhian about being asexual. She discusses how it took a while for her to understand what being asexual meant and how she found her community. Presented by Emma Goswell Produced by Sam Walker Find us on twitter @ComeOutStories and on Instagram @ComingOutStoriesPod We...

Kestral “I would rather run around naked than wear the 'boy' clothes I was given" Kestral identifies as a queer trans woman, who told us she questioned her identity from the age of four Presented by Emma Goswell Produced by Sam Walker Find us on twitter @ComeOutStories and on Instagram @ComingOutStoriesPod Coming Out Stories is a What Goes On Media Production Presented by Emma Goswe...

Leighton “I was too scared to go to my own father's funeral" This time,  you'll hear from Leighton, who grew up in England but has family in Nigeria, where it's still illegal to be gay.  His family challenged his sexuality after seeing a facebook post. Presented by Emma Goswell Produced by Sam Walker Find us on twitter @ComeOutStories and on Instagram @ComingOutStoriesPod Comin...

Claire “Telling my daughter was such a weight off my shoulders" Claire didn't come out as trans until her mid 40s when she had to tell both her wife and her teenage daughter. Please be aware this interview may be triggering as it mentions both transphobia and sexual abuse. Presented by Emma Goswell Produced by Sam Walker Find us on twitter @ComeOutStories and on Instagram @ComingOutStori...

"Coming Out Stories" X "The Euro Trip"!   In a special bonus episode, we've got together with our friends at the best Eurovision podcast you might never have heard of, The Euro Trip!   Emma chats to hosts Rob and James about why they love Eurovision so much, why the song contest is such a big event for so many members of the LGBTQ+ community and as the first straight guest...

Eleanor “I went on a date with a man who I had convinced myself was perfect and told myself - if it doesn't work,  then you're gay" This time,  you'll hear from graphic artist and author Eleanor Crewes, the woman behind the book "The Times I Knew I Was Gay" Eleanor went to great lengths to confirm her sexuality! Presented by Emma Goswell Produced by Sam Walker Find us...

Coming Out Stories is back!  A quick hello from Emma and Sam to let you know about some of the incredible people we've spoken to for season two - launching April 7! Don't forget our book is out!  You can order now from Amazon, Blackwells ,  Waterstones or to support independent bookshops from Bookshops.org Find us on twitter @ComeOutStories and on Instagram @ComingOutStoriesPod Coming Ou...

Coming Out Stories the book is.....Coming Out! A very special episode in which presenter Emma Goswell and producer Sam Walker discuss the forthcoming Coming Out Stories book! They talk about a number of topics including: * Why it's still important to come out in 2021 * What to do if you get a reaction you weren't expecting * Why celebrities coming out is still importnat *  How people can...

Michael Gunning “I suppressed so many feelings for so long. I just didn't want to be seen as any different from the other competitive swimmers." There aren't many professional athletes who are out, but the amazing swimmer @MichaelGunning1 is brave enough to compete internationally as an out gay man. He talks to us about coming out on national television, after realising, on a bisexu...

Tim “I always thought there must be something wrong with me” Timothy Tsai grew up in Taiwan in the 60s and 70s and knew he had to 'escape' to the USA, where he would feel safer as a gay man. He travelled all over the world until, in Hong Kong, he met and fell in love with a Welshman! He now lives in Pembrokeshire Presented by Emma Goswell Produced by Sam Walker Find us on twitter @ComeOu...

Donnya Piggott “I fancied women, so thought I was bisexual. I 'obviously' fancied men too I told myself, as that's what I was supposed to do” Donnya is a queer woman and LGBTQ+ rights activist from Barbados.  She struggled with being the sort of woman she thought other people wanted her to be.  She loved playing sport and didn't like dressing in a super-feminine way, so she ent...

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 @EmmaGoswell Find us on twitter @ComeOutStories and on Instagram @ComingOutStoriesPod Presented by Emma Goswell Produced by Sam...

"I accidentally texted my mum instead of my boyfriend" Phil is a pilot, originally from South Africa.  A mix up with a text message nearly made him come out  before he was ready.  He talks about growing up gay in South Africa and what it was like to be gay whilst living in the Middle East Find us on twitter @ComeOutStories and on Instagram @ComingOutStoriesPod Presented by Emma Goswell P...

“My brother found out my secret when he opened my post” Rachel identifies as being “partially gender-fluid” or a “cross dresser” In the 1980s she used to order clothes and shoes from what was then called a “transvestite catalogue” 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 @ComeOutSt...

“My straight brother took me to gay bars, to make sure I was safe” TV weather presenter and celebrity drummer Owain Wyn Evans, found that his parents took some time to understand that he was gay, as they didn’t know any other LGBTQ+ people.  But it was his brother’s reaction that really surprised him. Find us on Instagram @comingoutstoriespod     Presented by Emma Goswell Produced by Sam Walker We...

“If I could turn back time and come out as trans at 20, then I would.  Waiting nearly killed me” Kayden is a queer trans man, who first  came out as a lesbian at the age of 15. He didn’t realise he was trans until he was 20, but it then took him ten long hard years to finally become the man he is today.     Presented by Emma Goswell Produced by Sam Walker We'd love to hear YOUR story.  Please...

“She asked me if I was gay and I just said “Yes!” I couldn’t believe I had actually said it” Jessie grew up in Essex and struggled to come out as a lesbian at school, until a very fateful trip to London and the nightclub Heaven.   Follow us! Twitter: @comeoutstories Instagram: comingoutstoriespod Presented by Emma Goswell Produced by Sam Walker We'd love to hear YOUR story.  Please get in tou...

"I reclaimed the words bullies used to throw at me for being gay" Successful make up artist Patrick grew up in Northern Ireland where he was relentlessly bullied for being gay. Follow us! Twitter: @comeoutstories Instagram: comingoutstoriespod Presented by Emma Goswell Produced by Sam Walker We'd love to hear YOUR story.  Please get in touch www.comingoutstoriespodcast.com or find u...

“I ran away from home and found my queer family” Tim Sigsworth MBE is the Chief Executive of the Albert Kennedy Trust.  Like a lot of the young people he now helps, Tim had a very hard time coming out as his family were far from understanding. After coming out of a coma in 2016, Tim realised who his true family really were Follow us! Twitter: @comeoutstories Instagram: comingoutstoriespod Presente...

“I never thought I would have the courage to tell my parents who I am" Asifa Lahore is Britain’s first out Muslim drag queen. She now identifies as a trans woman, but first came out as a gay man. She really struggled coming out and was even pressured to get into an arranged marriage Follow us! Twitter: @comeoutstories Instagram: comingoutstoriespod Presented by Emma Goswell Produced by Sam Wa...

“I will never forget the dead look in my mother’s eyes when I told her” Writer, broadcaster and political commentator Iain Dale didn’t come out until later in life. He does have some regrets about waiting for so long, but once he did as he puts it  “There was absolutely no going back!” Follow us! Twitter: @comeoutstories Instagram: comingoutstoriespod Presented by Emma Goswell Produced by Sam Walk...