How and why did you find Empty Closets?

[Owen]

This is just something I'm curious about. I know this thread has been done before, but the last time I remember seeing it was long ago, so I think it's time to give it another go.

How did you find Empty Closets? Were you specifically searching for a support and/or GLBT forum/community, or did you stumble upon it? If you were actively looking for a forum or community like us, why were you looking for one? And finally, why have you stayed?

[thedreamwatch]

I found EC when I was searching for coming out stories to read. I wound up at a random blog or something that had support sites listed and this just happened to be the one I chose to visit.

I guess I've stayed because even though I'm already out, and was just freshly out when I came...it's nice to know that I'm not the only one. There's always somebody around. Different perspectives and different stories and just a place to be online, I guess.

[Kidd]

I was just trolling through Yahoo Answers and some random question had a link to EC on it. I clicked it and browsed around a little bit and I decided to stay.

[Rikudo]

I found it while looking through youtube coming out videos. A guy had mentioned a forum so I decided to check it out.

[fiddledeedee]

I was seriously questioning my sexuality, and I googled "coming out" as I wanted to know how I would if I was gay/bi/something. I also wanted to find out more about "alternative sexualities" or whatever people call it so I could find out what I was. It is very helpful to me to read about others in similar situations, and I feel much more confident in myself. (I have now come out to everyone at school, yay!)I lurked for a little and decided that there was an active community and wonderful atmosphere here so I joined. I stuck around a while longer before posting, though. I have since looked at some other forums and discovered how rare a place like EC is and how lucky I was to find it; I remember one place where someone might come looking for help like many people on here, but they would be laughed at, put down, etc.. I have stayed as it is a great place here, I want to help people, it gives me better empathy skills (I had not even heard of being transgendered before I came here), and the Fun and Games section is just what it claims to be!

[Black Cat]

I remember it well:

Three long years ago I was in the middle of an online class (we had meetings online, since I was homeschooled) and I wasn't paying attention - which means it must have been Algebra class. I was cruising around on YouTube, watching coming out videos, and I ran out of interesting ones to watch, so I entered "coming out videos" into the search box, and EC was one of the top results. I poked around a bit, and then after my class ended I kept thinking about some of the people I'd seen posting here, so I came back the next day. I stalked this place for a whole year before joining.

I still remember signing up for my account too, I was actually shaking with nerves! On June 9th, I believe it was, I created my account upon returning home from my "graduation" (I use the term loosely, as I dropped out but hadn't told my grandparents yet) dinner with my grandfather and the rest of my family.

At first I was reluctant to even label my profile with the word gay, even though I've known all along that that's what I am. Using the word just hammered it home that I was something different. And that scared the hell out of me. I was instantly greeted with warm welcomes, most of which were by people who are still around.

I've stayed simply because I like it here. I like the people, I like the comfortable vibe I get when I log in (albeit, quite rarely these days do I actually log in, but no matter). And this place has helped me bring issues to the surface that I didn't even know I had. It has allowed me to blow off steam, find friends, and pretty much feel like an almost normal person. I love EC. It is truly an amazing place.

I've tried some other LGBT forums, but I don't get the same vibe there. Plus most of the other forums I found were full of 13-15 year olds (not that that's a bad thing) and I like the variety of people we have here.

In addition, this place inspires me. I recently undertook my own coming out process. I always figured I'd just never get around to telling people, but through reading other people's stories and experiences, I found out that I too posessions the strength to undertake the seemingly impossible.

That's my EC love story. Oh great, now I'm all verklempt! Someone pass the Kleenex... xD

[Tristar]

I found this site a few months ago when I was finally feeling fed up with being someone other than who I really am. I think I was browsing for some coming out stories when I came across a link to this site.

I'm very glad I did!

[Random Dent]

I was questioning my sexuality - though I pretty much knew I liked women exclusively I still had to "know". So I did a Google search for LGBT forums and this one was the first that popped up. I joined and right away I felt at home. I really like the members and feel I can ask questions about anything that's bothering me.

[aidan]

i used to post on the y!a lgbt section and i wasn't a troll. i'll give you a moment to recover from the shock...

...*cough*, anyway, i either googled "gay advice/support forum", or maybe something more related to the question i was stuck trying to answer... either way, i ended up here.

[Just Passing]

Believe or not, I was a Pokemon forum (Pokecommunity) and someone had a link to this place in their signature, so if anyone was there, please tell me and I can possibly thank you personally. Feeling like the name sounded like a LGBT forum, I clicked on and it was. I thought I'd read some threads and then a few months later, I joined. I wish I had joined earlier though, as I love this place and it's really helped me out.

[Revan]

To be honest, I found EC through a sister site that begins with J and ends with B. Well ok it ends with S but you know . Someone had posted a link and since then I've been very grateful.

[Adam]

I wasnt even lookin for anything really, I just typed into google something gay related thing and this popped up, I wasn't even planning or wanting to come out but I kept reading the threads and stories and after awhile it completely changed my mind.

[LemonCake]

I think I googled "coming out advice" I went to some other gay forums but it seemed like a lot of them were not really focusing on coming out of the closet.

[4alex6]

I was trying to figure out how to come out so I looked on Google for suggestions and this site popped up. I stayed because I felt like this site is really helping me in figuring out my sexuality and once I had figured it out, I wanted to help other people with their goals in coming out of the closet.

[ZandO]

This site was referenced on another forum. As someone who's been basically perpetually closeted for...ever, I wish a resource like this had been around years ago!

[Foxywolf]

I think i wanted to read other peoples coming out stories, so I found this site and read some of the coming out stories on it. I enjoyed it so I decided to join to get help in coming out of the closet myself. I have stayed because I really like the people on here and the people are active and it's just a nice place to be.

[Bibliophile]

I searched for online LGBT support groups and this was one of the first ones I saw. I was looking for a way to cope with being bisexual and in the military while I was still active duty. I have stayed because the people here have helped me directly or not with coming to terms with my sexuality. Its taking small steps but I am getting there and maybe I can help others as I travel my own path to acceptance.

[thecat06]

I found it while I was reading comments on LFMF. I'm really glad I actually read those comments (I never read comments) because this site has helped me figure out who I am and helped me coming out to my two friends.

[Allegro molto]

Originally Posted by Revan

To be honest, I found EC through a sister site that begins with J and ends with B. Well ok it ends with S but you know . Someone had posted a link and since then I've been very grateful.

SAME!!!!! xD Only, I was researching the "sister site that begins with a J and ends with a B" on Wikipedia, and this site was mentioned in the article. My depression was probably at its worst during this time (around February, I believe.), so I believed that it would be good to be "around" people like me, even if it was over the internet. I lurked the forums for a couple of months weeks and grew so tempted to join.

I eventually caved in. I live in a small town with practically no gay "scene", not to mention that gays are definitely not looked upon well in this particular town/city. Also, I was just so sick and tired of not having anyone to vent to, to talk to my problems about, or to even talk about cute/hot guys I've seen throughout the day! (I mean, seriously, it's so painful when I hear my mom and sisters comment about hot guys, and I can't say anything about it!)

I've found a few good friends on here, and I intend to stay. NO. MATTER. WHAT.

[Fairybread]

Well.. I think I stumbled into EC by googling LGBT, and coming across a question on Y!A that linked to EC in the answer. I lurked for an hour or so, then decided to join. I've stayed cos.. I don't know many LGBT people irl, I love the atmosphere here, and I don't feel so alone