Coming out on Social Media

[CrystalMatthews0426]

Hey everyone,

so I have been absent for quite some time as I was dealing with a few personal matters.  Over the last few months, I have settled towards the belief that I am more on the gender neutral side, and have never felt better. Therapy is going great, my wife has been extremely supportive, and we found two support groups that we have been attending and made a ton of new friends.  During this time, I have come out to my assistant manager, the rest of my most important friends, my immediate family, as well as my wife's immediate family. 

Now that all of the really important people are out and supportive, I am considering coming out on social media and to the rest of my friends and family. I'm just not sure on the best way to do this all. I'm sure many of you here have been in the same situation, and I was wondering if anybody had suggestions on the best things to say and not to say when posting on facebook?

Thanks in advance.

[Jani]

Hello Crystal.  I'm a little older than you and I never got on the social media bandwagon, other than here.  But from what I've read and heard from friends there can be many ways to come out depending upon your perceived responses.  So in no particular order...

Cull down your friends list to people you really want to associate with and then announce and make the changes to your profile.   

Start a new profile as the "new" you and invite your besties to join you.  

Keep your online presence (current friends) as you are and make your announcement.  

As far was what not to say, I would suggest a common sense approach.  That is, no really personal data (the internet never forgets!) or deep insight into your decisions.  Save those conversations for one on one with people very close to, as needed.

Best of luck.

Jani  

[MarcieMarie12]

I will second keeping it short. Leave the longer conversations for later. I came out all at once to family, friends on one weekend. I did not come out on facebook until 6 months later. Even then it was sort of discontinue his facebook page and just keep mine. I did send invites to a lot of friends to switch over to my new account, most did.

[DenimAndLace]

After I came out personally to the "important" people, I created a new profile on social media. My new profile is locked down like a bank and the only people who I invite or accept as friends are those I KNOW are accepting. I do that to protect myself from hurtful comments and "liked" content that would be upsetting as well as future employers, creepers and nosey acquaintances.  Maybe that's hyper protective but after being severely hurt and passively attacked by some family, I realized that some people shouldn't have access to my inner sanctum.  Online vulnerability is something that needs to be carefully managed.