Danilo's coming out as a gay man

This is Danilo's story

"I would never have imagined how positively people reacted."

Danilo was relieved after he came out as gay. His grandmother in particular offers him a lot of support. But unfortunately he has also had some negative experiences.

Danilo likes boys. He already knew that in year 5. At the time, it felt completely normal to him. But at some point he realised that it didn't seem so normal after all. Queer people often reach this point before they come out. They realise: I'm different!

Danilo, 21 years old, smiles at the camera. He is wearing a blue shirt and is sitting in front of a climbing wall.

"Until I was 14, I had problems with myself."

Danilo

Danilo couldn't understand why he didn't feel the way his friends did. His inner coming out was difficult for him. But that is important. Only then can he come out publicly.

Danilo stands with his arms folded in front of a window in his flat in Berlin and looks into the camera.

At the age of 15, he had his first date with a boy. He was asked about it in an online chat with his closest friends: "Are you gay?" Danilo's heart was racing. He felt totally insecure. But if he couldn't come out to his best friends, who else could he come out to? He plucked up his courage and came out: "Yes, I'm gay!"

Grandma gives him strength

The reactions were positive. Danilo would not have expected that and it gave him courage. Danilo's grandmother in particular is an important anchor in the family.

"No matter what: Danilo will always be our grandchild."
Heidi, Danilo's grandmother

Danilo's grandmother emphasises how important talking to each other is for LGBTIQ families. After all, young people need to feel loved and at home in the family.

Danilo gazes thoughtfully out of the window of his flat at a high-rise housing estate in Berlin.

Unfortunately, Danilo has already had some unpleasant experiences. When he was 15, he was spat at when he was out with his boyfriend at the time. For this reason, it is also important to Danilo to be able to defend himself in an emergency. That's why he does various sports, such as bouldering, to stay fit.

Experiences of discrimination are unfortunately a reality for many LGBTIQ people. That's why it's important to know what you can do in such cases.

Nevertheless, Danilo feels liberated since coming out. "When it was out, it was like a stone falling from my heart. I'm free now. I am me and people know that now. And that's ok."