With the exception of one grandmother who is dying, I have come out to my entire extended family either on my own or via my parents mentioning things. This is particularly amazing because my conservative parents are the ones who started telling people, not wanting it to be awkward when people met my long-term partner. And, I have to say, it has brought some of us a lot closer together, including at least three family members who had found an old online journal who said “We knew that, we were just waiting for you to know.”

Honestly, I thought it would be horrible. My family has definitely surprised me.