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hi sam, i know this is weird but i think im trans but i dont want people to say im too young to know or just rude stuff im general. i cant tell my friends because they will stop being friends with me and bully me for it, and if anyone else found out i would be even more bullied than i am now. but for some reason i feel like i should tell people but even one of my closest friend makes jokes about trans people and basically all my friends call me trans and i have to say im not (even though i think i am, still not 100% sure though). one of my friends said once that she wouldnt support me if i was trans and would make sure i get bullied, it could have been a joke but it still made me upset. so yea i just have no idea what to and im sorry for ranting for so long about something thats not even that important.
Sam
Hi there,
Your gender identity is a part of who you are, and nobody has the right to bully or make you feel bad about it. It’s okay to take the time you need to think about what feels right to you.
Coming out is when you make the choice to share your sexuality or gender identity with other people. It should be your choice if you want to tell someone about your gender identity and it’s all about you feeling comfortable and ready. Remember, you can tell different people or groups of people at different times if that feels better for you.
Sometimes it can take time for family or friends to accept and understand that you're still the same person they already love and respect. People close to you can have different reactions, but no one should make you feel bad about yourself.
Having a friend tell you that they’ll make sure you get bullied if you come out is never okay. Bullying or hurting you because you’ve come out as trans is called transphobia, and it’s wrong. There's always support for you.
Sometimes when you’re thinking about coming out, but you’re worried about how people will react, it can help to think about who you feel safest with and introduce the topic of being trans in a more serious way. Talking about it without coming out can help you to understand whether they may be supportive of you.
If you’re not feeling ready to speak to people in your life, Childline can be a safe place to get support. Lots of young people talk about their gender identity on the message boards, and you can get support from Childline at any time.
Take care,
Sam
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