Welcome to this episode of werkbook! We explore what coming out to family actually looks like—across cultures, generations, religions, and life stages. Tyson and Taylor include personal reflections on coming out to parents in Canada and Brazil shaped by religion, fear, and love, and situate these stories in and out of the broader contexts explored by the nine guests we get to hear from.

From there, we hear a range of voices: people who lived double lives to survive at home, those who are selectively out due to culture or language, those who never got to come out to a parent who passed away, and others whose families quietly “already knew.” The episode closes with joyful, affirming stories of support—while still acknowledging that coming out is rarely a single moment, but a series of ongoing negotiations shaped by safety, timing, and love.

Section 1 - This common experience with parents

00:10:05 — Ani (Brazil)
Growing up evangelical, living a double life, and finding school—not home—as a safe space.

00:15:39 — Kanako (Japan)
Not being out to family, managing visibility on social media, and the limits of selective disclosure.

00:26:16 — Gaye (Türkiye)
Grief, generational limits, and coming out to a parent only after their death.

Section 2 - It's understood

00:29:59 — Elizabeth (UK)
A matter-of-fact, almost accidental coming out where queerness was already assumed.

Section 3 - We love you.
00:35:47 — Chad (USA)
Coming out first to an aunt, then to parents—and reflections on the paths we choose to do so.

00:41:03 — Giovanni (Italy)
A joyful, theatrical family “intervention” that ends in laughter and relief.

00:44:49 — Ethan (Vietnam)
Immediate parental affirmation and the privilege of unconditional support.

Section 4 - Out isn't just to parents.

00:50:10 — David (Canada)
Later-in-life coming out within a marriage, moving from queer theory to lived clarity.

Section 5 - Rounding things out
00:58:30 — Mitts (Brazil)
His mom was the gay beard until she wasn't and then she was again.

* All clips used are done so for educational purposes under the creative commons licensing.
* Intro music clips by Gamemaster Audio and AM Beef. Background music includes Aryeh "I Love You", Oded Distalmen "Coucou", and Dreamy Drums - Rhythmic Chop Beat.

Welcome to our first episode, where we come out together as a community, podcast hosts, and podcast editors! Taylor says it best when she describes the stories we include as being "unpolished".

Taylor & Tyson discuss the origin of this project, the meaning behind the name (it's not incorrect spelling, we swear!), coming out stories, the phrase itself, and ways in which media has shaped the view of coming out. We attempt to show how we're merging two worlds: queerness and education.

Episode breakdown:
A - 0:00 Introductions
B - 5:02 Why werkbook is needed
C - 11:15 Coming Out Day history
D - 13:50 Taylor & Tyson discuss coming out stories
E - 18:57 Coming out vs Inviting in
F - 21:15 Heartstopper
G - 29:00 Elliott Page
H - 34:40 Preview of S1E2

* We refer to Human Rights Campaign and National Coming Out Day. Find out more here: https://www.hrc.org/campaigns/national-coming-out-day
* All media clips used are done so for educational purposes under the creative commons licensing.
* Intro music clips by Gamemaster Audio and AM Beef. Background music includes Like a Father.