3.From popped collar to public relations exec! —Matthew
4.16 vs 26.
I didn't come out until I was 19. Since then, there have been a lot of "Wait, OMG, how did I not know I was hella gay?" moments —Kelsi
5.Weird mouse girl still lives in my gay soul. —Paige
6.I was very depressed in high school because I was closeted. I think it physically manifested in my weight. But after coming out, I was able to make healthier choices mentally and physically. It took time but was worth it. —Eric
7.Awkward baby queer in my 20s trying to fit in vs. 30-year-old badass registered nurse living under the rainbow with my loving girlfriend —Javigl
8.Back then I was wearing plaid and dying my hair black from a box. Now my hair is natural, out of my face, and I smile much more. —Kevin
9.In 10 years, I discovered skincare, embraced facial hair, and found my angles. Thank you, Holy Spearit. —recentlyheard
10.Sad, lonely, confused, depressed junior in high school to happy wife and mom of one amazing little man. Things do get better. —Courtney
11.I went from awkward, self conscious, fully closeted teen who hated themselves and tried so hard to blend in with my peers to an androgynous, sexually fluid adult who doesn’t give a crap about people’s opinions. I like this version of me so much more. —Nicole
14.From an awkward 15-year-old who had no idea her feelings for girls were anything more than friendship (thanks, internalized homophobia) to a slightly less awkward 25-year-old who has been proudly out for several years. I still can't flirt to save my life, though. —ljvincent
17.I took their advice and spiced up my life. —zgio
18.From band t-shirts and bad haircuts to pumpkin picking and IPAs. I realized my eyebrows didn’t need to be plucked off my face and a mud mask routine does wonders. My sad little trapped queen was just dying to get out and tuck a skinny jean into a boot. Thanks be to Cher, Celine Dion, and my beard. —Ryan
19.From a scared, closeted band kid to a producer of an all LGBTQ comedy festival. I'd say gay looks good on me. —Beth
20.2009 Dylan: "Straight," overweight, unhappy with life, and single AF.
2019 Dylan: Gay and proud, 106 pounds lighter, happier than ever before, and has the greatest partner in crime I could ever imagine. —Dylan
21.I promise I've grown out of the "floating fist" pose too! —Kyry5
22.The left is me with my first boyfriend and the right is me three years later with my first girlfriend. I grew up in a conservative west Texas town and spent most of my time forcing myself to be something I wasn’t. Now I’m living in a much less conservative town and finally gained the confidence to accept myself as I am. I truly never thought I could be so happy. —Miller
23.Me, pretending to be straight at a high school dance with a boy (note the clenched fist) vs. Current me, very gay. —M
24.Ten years later, I'm happily out as gay, and I'm in my first gay relationship. I'm probably still as socially awkward and goofy, but it feels good to be true to myself and not trying to explain away my quirks/be internally homophobic. —Ross
25.Seven years of loving your authentic self does a body good! —Erik
Have a gay glow-up of your own? Use the drop box below to show us a picture and tell us a little bit about your transformation for your chance to be in a future gay glow-up post.
