https://www.iuysafespace.com/blog daily 0.75 2025-02-04 https://www.iuysafespace.com/blog/rays-story monthly 0.5 2023-08-31 https://www.iuysafespace.com/blog/maggies-story monthly 0.5 2023-08-31 https://www.iuysafespace.com/blog/maddies-poem monthly 0.5 2023-09-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fda61abaebb6e43efa69776/56ca3fb5-a1eb-4068-a951-a0fa6abccf46/PooleM-3.jpg Coming Out Stories - Maddie’s Poem - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.iuysafespace.com/blog/aethers-story monthly 0.5 2023-08-22 https://www.iuysafespace.com/blog/anons-story monthly 0.5 2023-08-22 https://www.iuysafespace.com/blog/alices-story monthly 0.5 2023-08-21 https://www.iuysafespace.com/blog/levs-story monthly 0.5 2023-08-21 https://www.iuysafespace.com/blog/runes-story monthly 0.5 2023-08-21 https://www.iuysafespace.com/blog/wills-story monthly 0.5 2023-08-21 https://www.iuysafespace.com/blog/stellans-story monthly 0.5 2023-08-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fda61abaebb6e43efa69776/e2cc4a56-0ac5-4dfc-ab8c-9ea2c56a4c22/IMG_2339_Original.jpg Coming Out Stories - Stellan’s Story - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.iuysafespace.com/blog/zees-story monthly 0.5 2023-08-19 https://www.iuysafespace.com/blog/hunters-story monthly 0.5 2023-08-19 https://www.iuysafespace.com/blog/pheonixs-story monthly 0.5 2023-08-19 https://www.iuysafespace.com/blog/miles-story monthly 0.5 2023-08-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fda61abaebb6e43efa69776/7770c09f-d502-4f6e-8e53-8e0be5a2b9f7/kyle-a0KL1Um0wBA-unsplash.jpg Coming Out Stories - Mile’s Story - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.iuysafespace.com/blog/0xbk7i7p70rl4zkycc1m7b19h7tnsm monthly 0.5 2023-06-17 https://www.iuysafespace.com/blog/tiaras-story monthly 0.5 2023-03-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fda61abaebb6e43efa69776/34a346bb-c6dd-48e4-983c-28dade8e349b/image0+%281%29.jpg Coming Out Stories - Tiara’s Story - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.iuysafespace.com/blog/1v6uoi36gi3rwgmohrvqtne5n050od monthly 0.5 2023-03-27 https://www.iuysafespace.com/blog/ym1o4xehgzisjx956lrqbkdmdtvioa monthly 0.5 2023-03-11 https://www.iuysafespace.com/blog/kween-kong-interview-story monthly 0.5 2023-10-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fda61abaebb6e43efa69776/b65b82ca-1764-48ae-a934-ff8d5992622f/image0.jpeg Coming Out Stories - Kween Kong Interview Story - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.iuysafespace.com/blog/anonymous-story-1 monthly 0.5 2023-01-24 https://www.iuysafespace.com/blog/bos-winning-poem monthly 0.5 2022-11-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fda61abaebb6e43efa69776/71a0f0ee-940c-4c1b-9cba-128ce2f32626/IMG_1859.jpeg Coming Out Stories - Bo’s Winning Poem - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.iuysafespace.com/blog/teals-story monthly 0.5 2022-09-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fda61abaebb6e43efa69776/9f4df98e-7a16-4550-9da3-2b96b3fcbcdb/imagejpeg_3.jpeg Coming Out Stories - Teal’s Story Growing into my nonbinary identity is less a story of transformation, rather a story of discovery. As I grew up, I founded myself on ideals of the concrete. I found comfort in differentiating reality from illusion. I had tendencies to thoroughly research my interests, ensuring that I could back them if someone ever challenged me. No one ever did. I applied this philosophy to my school work and relationships, but mostly to my identity. And for many years, I never questioned it. I knew I was white; I knew I was somewhere between 5’6 and 5’7; I knew I loved school; I knew I was queer; I knew I loved music; I knew I did not know my shoe size; I knew I had female reproductive organs. To this day, these facts have not changed. They never will. It is simply my orientation to them that allows me to see them as more than just facts. As a whole. To be clear, I was not a stranger to gender or to fluidity. My sibling my came out as transgender when I was in fifth grade. And throughout my childhood, I was frequently exposed to change through experiences, people, and ideas that would reorient my perspective and permeate within me. From middle school onwards, I would find myself experimenting with many labels that circulated the queer community. For me, labels often morphed from an expansive clarity to excruciatingly small spaces that forced my knees tight against my chest. The labels themselves never shrunk though, I realize now that their impermanence was just a reflection of my own growth. Over time, my gender identity turned from quiet questions to shouts that echoed across the chasm of my mind. When I started feeling brave, I began to hear them out. This is what they asked me: They asked me to apply the same patience with myself that had come much easier to me when it was my gender queer friends spoke to me and not myself. They asked me to look beyond the dangerous simplicity that Western ideals had tricked us into holding as the only truth. They asked me to re-examine my body, my mind, and my soul. They asked me why I felt such a strong attachment to the known. And when I had just begun to answer their first few questions, they began to spit out more. I searched for what was concrete. I asked the internet, essays, my friends, and my family. The more I learned and researched, the less concrete it all became. But within an unstable sense of self and sense of the world, I began to realize who I was. I was no longer tethered to answers, I was tethered to questions. Who am I? How does the world impact me? How do I impact the world? How do I want to impact the world? Yes, I am White. Yes, I am somewhere between 5’6 and 5’7. Yes, I love school. Yes, I am queer. Yes, I love music. No, I do not know my shoe size. And yes, I have female reproductive organs. But no, I do not identify as a woman or a girl. It was questions that led me here. It was questions that allowed me to see myself as someone whole. As someone who cannot be divided. Cannot be detached. Cannot be binary. https://www.iuysafespace.com/blog/samuels-story monthly 0.5 2022-08-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fda61abaebb6e43efa69776/2485660e-6c88-4cf1-b79f-295597e0ee8b/IMG_20220726_120338172_HDR.jpg Coming Out Stories - Samuel’s Story - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.iuysafespace.com/blog/barbaras-story monthly 0.5 2023-06-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fda61abaebb6e43efa69776/43f9d5cb-809b-4641-a256-f1e18b6e8206/image.jpg Coming Out Stories - Barbara’s Story - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.iuysafespace.com/blog/anonymous-story monthly 0.5 2021-10-26 https://www.iuysafespace.com/blog/austins-story monthly 0.5 2021-10-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fda61abaebb6e43efa69776/1609282754988-L45VVDQKGBXR2OQEUNY4/IMG-2715.jpeg Coming Out Stories - Michaela’s Story https://www.iuysafespace.com/blog/bettys-story monthly 0.5 2025-02-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fda61abaebb6e43efa69776/1630375500273-CFW7HQI4NQOH7WWJXVGD/IMG-9605.jpg Coming Out Stories - Evin’s Story - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.iuysafespace.com/blog/qvmzqgpoinphbgjfzzp0q94qbn7vju monthly 0.5 2022-08-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fda61abaebb6e43efa69776/26ef5550-7726-4864-9603-f236f432f805/JORDAN.jpg Coming Out Stories - Jordan’s Story - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.iuysafespace.com/blog/blog-post-one-fydkc monthly 0.5 2021-09-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fda61abaebb6e43efa69776/1632181869237-HG13KIE3XD43N3TEB79M/image_6483441.JPG Coming Out Stories - Alex’s Story https://www.iuysafespace.com/blog/category/coming+out+story monthly 0.5 https://www.iuysafespace.com/blog/tag/queer monthly 0.5 https://www.iuysafespace.com/blog/tag/Creator+of+IUY monthly 0.5 https://www.iuysafespace.com/blog/tag/ZOEY monthly 0.5 https://www.iuysafespace.com/blog/tag/TW monthly 0.5 https://www.iuysafespace.com/blog/tag/nonbinary monthly 0.5 https://www.iuysafespace.com/blog/tag/bi monthly 0.5 https://www.iuysafespace.com/blog/tag/coming+out+story monthly 0.5 https://www.iuysafespace.com/blog/tag/texas monthly 0.5 https://www.iuysafespace.com/blog/tag/trans+masc monthly 0.5 https://www.iuysafespace.com/blog/tag/lesbian monthly 0.5 https://www.iuysafespace.com/blog/tag/they%2Fthem monthly 0.5 https://www.iuysafespace.com/blog/tag/coming+out monthly 0.5 https://www.iuysafespace.com/blog/tag/gay monthly 0.5 https://www.iuysafespace.com/blog/tag/LGBTQ%2B monthly 0.5 https://www.iuysafespace.com/blog/tag/trans monthly 0.5 https://www.iuysafespace.com/about daily 0.75 2025-07-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fda61abaebb6e43efa69776/ca2e5d4a-aa41-486e-8189-dd157ff20a0e/Screenshot+2025-07-29+at+5.49.31%E2%80%AFPM.png About https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fda61abaebb6e43efa69776/3cf3f44e-4d60-438d-90e6-2e3b72debf49/5FCFD8A8-7B3A-49E3-943C-E15BA39A44F2.JPG About - How Does I.U.Y. Work? I.U.Y. is based upon the goal of ‘‘Youth helping youth.’’ I.U.Y. stands as a place for everyone to share their story to help others going through a similar experience. Anyone under the age of 18 can reach out to the Understanders to ask coming out related questions. The Understanders are there to be listeners and friends to you. They are here to answer your questions based upon their experience in the LGBTQ+ community. The Understanders are here to actually be able to say ‘‘I understand you’’ when you feel like no one else can. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fda61abaebb6e43efa69776/2ef6f599-4c62-46a7-a460-287dad696ede/9316F439-2F41-435E-B51B-4C60761F7BE9.JPG About - Can Anyone Share Their Story? Yes! We love hearing new stories. Any LGBTQIA+ person 13+ can send in their story along with their name and a picture for their page, or a request to be anonymous. Unlike communicating with Understander, stories can be sent in from people 13+. All stories go through an editing process to protect the privacy of other people, prevent possible harmful content, and fix grammatical errors. We encourage everyone to share their story so it can reach and help people. Not Sure What to Submit? Read Stories from our website for inspiration! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fda61abaebb6e43efa69776/f75ecfdb-e155-4c73-9ed0-243969c78e7d/IMG-3239.JPG About https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fda61abaebb6e43efa69776/97f4ac82-b836-451e-91e2-02d4bd898ec3/IMG-3438+%281%29.jpg About https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fda61abaebb6e43efa69776/725a4ff8-8cb3-4c89-8bf2-d6404598936b/IMG-0036.JPG About https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fda61abaebb6e43efa69776/a03c5545-30de-43f9-8bd3-0d0d7d31a4fe/Screenshot+2023-08-20+10.59.20+PM.png About https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fda61abaebb6e43efa69776/63817257-544e-481d-ad12-f53ed788ba8b/IMG-5287.JPG About https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fda61abaebb6e43efa69776/d2d65431-f733-453b-9279-f447c335abfe/49232.jpg About https://www.iuysafespace.com/understanders daily 0.75 2025-07-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fda61abaebb6e43efa69776/06575812-17ce-49c5-b2b2-927831ea79cd/Screenshot+2025-07-29+at+5.51.45%E2%80%AFPM.png Understanders - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1615224238156-OY2QGA6E03LY3JALP4NL/Rectangle+16.jpg Understanders https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1615224431317-5MY8W6DHU2C1N8K4V902/Rectangle+18.jpg Understanders https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1615224412523-SZYXMKS44H8QE5OK3RZP/Rectangle+17.jpg Understanders https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1615224521708-2NJ8JNMIYIPO2KCL1RU2/Rectangle+16.jpg Understanders https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1615224238156-OY2QGA6E03LY3JALP4NL/Rectangle+16.jpg Understanders https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1615224431317-5MY8W6DHU2C1N8K4V902/Rectangle+18.jpg Understanders https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1615224412523-SZYXMKS44H8QE5OK3RZP/Rectangle+17.jpg Understanders https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1615224521708-2NJ8JNMIYIPO2KCL1RU2/Rectangle+16.jpg Understanders https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1615224238156-OY2QGA6E03LY3JALP4NL/Rectangle+16.jpg Understanders https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1615224431317-5MY8W6DHU2C1N8K4V902/Rectangle+18.jpg Understanders https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1615224412523-SZYXMKS44H8QE5OK3RZP/Rectangle+17.jpg Understanders https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1615224521708-2NJ8JNMIYIPO2KCL1RU2/Rectangle+16.jpg Understanders https://www.iuysafespace.com/contact-1 daily 0.75 2023-08-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fda61abaebb6e43efa69776/a9af6c88-3f5b-43ae-9e19-392d78db8302/IMG-9106.jpg Get Involved https://www.iuysafespace.com/general-3 daily 1.0 2025-07-30 https://www.iuysafespace.com/services-3 daily 0.75 2023-02-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fda61abaebb6e43efa69776/24ae2409-1283-4977-8ee4-051adf3a3d9c/IMG-3757.jpg Becoming an Understander - What Are the Understanders and How Do I Become One? The Understanders are the amazing group of dedicated volunteers who help make I.U.Y. possible. The Understanders are people who are available to answer your questions about coming out. Every member of the Understander Team is also a part of the LGBTQIA+ community and between ages 14-17. Each Understander is avaliable at certain hours listed in their profile and able to connect with any youth in need of a friend who gets it and can offer more in depth information on their experience to help you. Think of Understanders as an LGBTQIA+ pen pal to give you advice based on their experience! To apply for a spot on the Understander team email iuyvolunteersapps@gmail.com . https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fda61abaebb6e43efa69776/8f965a7b-3a3b-4cd2-8f8a-34f39fd28266/IMG-3779.jpg Becoming an Understander - What Should I Include In My Application to Become an Understander? We love expanding our team and are passionate about adding new members to our team. To become an Understander you will need to fill out a google form with your name, age, school, email, phone number, and city and state will need to be included. Visit the Get Involved page for the google form link. You must also include your story for our website before applying. You will then be followed up with an interview by current Understanders. If you make it through this process you must go through a training process in order to help prepare them for the Understander Team. Every six months new Understanders are able to come join our team. Email iuy.seeklove@gmail.com for more information and any questions! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fda61abaebb6e43efa69776/167fdd84-63eb-4055-a7bb-cedea7f4b60b/IMG-9450.jpg Becoming an Understander - Are There Any Requirements for Being an Understander? Yes. All Understanders must identify with being a part of the LGBTQIA+ community and be 14-17 years of age. 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