"Coming out is about letting people in." I was struggling at the time with the tangled emotions of uncovering and claiming my own identity as a bisexual woman. One day, my friend's words had a profound effect on me, shifting my thinking from that of a possible confrontation. My coming-out process to the rest of my friends and family has been an act of opening a door that is pulling back. My close group of friends was the first that I chose to let in. But there was no fear to be found. Releasing this part of myself with them felt like letting out a prolonged breath I had been holding for too long. Fortunately, their responses were overwhelmingly positive. There were questions, of course, a natural interest with part of me that they did not know. But the questions were asked in a context of love and genuine interest. They came to understand me more fully. Our conversation expanded, we came to know and understand each other better, and I felt seen for the first time in these significant relationships. Informing my family was more of a struggle and, yes, a more anxiety-ridden process. My mother's side was steeped in some old-fashioned ways, and I wasn't sure if my truth would be accepted. I started with my cousins, who hugged me tightly. They accepted me unconditionally, providing a powerful reassurance that I used in getting ready to inform my parents. With them, it wasn't one dramatic declaration. There were moments of initial confusion and a need for them to absorb what I was sharing with them. But their affection for me eventually got the better of any old ways and values. What I was most astonished by was how coming out allowed my family to learn more about me. They started to understand some of the fears I had carried with me, the motivations behind some of my decisions, and the inner strength it had taken to reach this place of self-acceptance. It was about revealing an essential part of who I was, something that had influenced the experiences I had had and the way I saw the world. They saw my sense of vulnerability, my courage, and my sheer sense of self. In return, they offered their sense of vulnerability, their fears, and hopes for my well-being. This was a new height of honesty and intimacy in our family life. By revealing myself, I was not simply declaring a fact about myself; I was introducing my loved ones to my inner world. I allowed them to understand that my capacity for love is as anyone else's, that my values of kindness and compassion are integral to my very self, and that what I have gained as a bisexual woman. "You have to tell them eventually." Those were my friend's words that started this whole thing. Being open with my family and friends, I've not only been accepted but understood in a richer, deeper way. They view the layers of my identity that underpin it. This opening up has not only strengthened my most important relationships but also provided me with the authority to be more authentic and to become a truth that is part of who I am.