This post is quoted from a qIISc member. And this one is a deviation from the norm: no happy ending.

"How I came out to my parents ✨ twice ✨

You know when you have those moments of realizations that just really makes you question your IQ score? When you go "Wow, that was so obvious and it took me this long to notice?"

Yeah, that was me when I realized I was bisexual. I spent months crushing on my girl best friend and going 'Wowowowow, she's so cute, I really want to kiss her'. Not once did I realize that girls liking girls romantically or sexually wasn't the norm. 🤦‍🤦‍🤦‍ It took me, I think, almost a year of research to fully understand my sexuality and come to terms with it.

Now my parents aren't the most conservative but they aren't the most progressive either. So when I did test the waters, I wasn't surprised to hear that they were cool with LGBTQIA+ although they did think it wasn't 'normal.'

So anyway, here I was, a 12 year old girl, finally comfortable with her sexuality, thinking hey, my parents think being gay/bi is okay. They also say they love me. They'll totally accept me when I go tell them I'm bi.

My mom laughed. 🤦‍🤦‍🤦‍

She really thought I was joking. And when I tried to explain how serious I was, I was shut down with "It's probably a phase" and the classic "You don't know the world like I do."

Sure, it hurt that she wouldn't even bother talking about it but I really thought, hey, maybe she's right, she is older and more experienced in life than me. Maybe, this is just a phase.

Nearly a decade has passed since then and I have only grown more comfortable in my sexuality. I moved to Bangalore. I met other people of the community through QUASI and Pride. I'm out to almost everyone I know.

A couple years ago, I was coming back from a Namma Pride meeting (shout out to the bae-est team that organises the most beautiful Pride in Bangalore, every year, despite all odds ❤️❤️❤️) when my mom called to check on me. It was just a casual call. I could've done the usual "oh I was at my literary club" line but I guess I just really wanted to stop lying. So I told her that I'd just been to a Pride meeting. She hesitated a little before going "oh you're going as an ally, no?"

I don't particularly want to delve on it. It was just a lot of crying and asking me how she could 'help me out of it'. How Bangalore 'changed' me. That my dad was 'heartbroken' and 'disappointed in me'.

It's been a while and a lot has happened since but of course, there's a still a lot of resentment involved between us. We're working on it and I really hope we'll get through it.

I don't know how this story would help anyone but it certainly shaped me. It's made me realize how every word I use could potentially pull them into a downward spiral. How to cut off 'friends' after excusing their toxic behavior a gazillion times. And most of all, it has made me all the more grateful for my friends who remind me everyday that I'm a good person. I ❤️❤️❤️ you guys. 🥺😤"