Coming Out Experiences

Openly LGBTQ+ students at Northwest High School can all relate to one giant hurdle: their coming out experience.

Coming out is a monumental event for every LGBTQ+ person. It marks the moment when they are finally able to share an integral part of themselves with those close to them. “[Coming out] could be daunting at first, but once you do it, it’s really freeing,” described NWHS sophomore Lief Foussat.

Foussat has been out as queer since early 2020, though not willingly at first. Their parents originally found out about their identity while looking through their texts, and since then, Foussat has become more open about their identity and love for makeup. “Now I’m just out and who I am and honestly don’t care what other people think about my identity, because that’s more of a reflection on them than me,” Foussat explained. 

Cat Rizzuti, NWHS junior, agreed that coming out is liberating. Rizzuti has been proudly out as a lesbian for five years. However, Rizzuti explained that coming out as a lesbian is especially challenging. “[Some people] feel like [being lesbian is] not real or it’s ‘just a phase’ as in ‘lesbians don’t exist’… they just think that there’s not a group of people that don’t like men,” they noted. Despite this, Rizzuti believes it is important that students remain true to themselves. “Just trust yourself and don’t let other people and what they say influence you,” Rizzuti advised.

NWHS junior Angelia Borski had similar experiences with coming out. She has been out as bisexual to her entire family since 9th grade. “[Being out] means that I get to hold my girlfriend’s hand in front of my family and no one will bat an eye,” Borski described. 

Izzy Edge, NWHS sophomore, has come out to their friends and family, which went well. They explained how coming out can be a delicate matter, and recommended that any students thinking about coming out should start with their closest friends without stressing too much over labels. “Just take your time. It’s fine, because nothing’s permanent… Things change and it’s fine to change things up to find what you’re comfortable with,” Edge stated. 

NWHS sophomore Aidyn Hoffmann had a completely different coming out experience. They first came out as bisexual—though they now identify as pansexual—in 6th grade. Hoffmann’s mother didn’t have much of a reaction, but his father was unsupportive. Because of this response, Hoffmann later decided to come out as transgender through a letter rather than in person. Their parents’ responses were about the same. Hoffmann urged, “Don’t come out unless it’s safe and you are for sure going to be accepted. I honestly regret coming out to my parents.”

Despite the difficulties of their coming out experience, Hoffmann emphasized the beauty of self-acceptance. They stated, “Coming out is something to be proud of, because if you aren’t proud of who you are, then who are you, really?”