To celebrate National Coming Out Day, we had the privilege of sitting down with Jaryn Holbrook Janeway, MBA (they/them), Out Youth’s Director of Programs & Operations, and co-author of Trans+: Love, Sex, Romance, and Being You. Jaryn shared their powerful coming out journey, the challenges they faced, and the advice they have for those on the cusp of their own coming out experience.

"Coming out is not a singular experience," Jaryn told us. "We have to come out over and over again. While I first came out at 14, I’ve had to come out countless times since then—about my gender identity, my evolving understanding of myself, and more."

For Jaryn, the act of coming out wasn't just about sharing their identity—it was a continuous process of self-discovery. "What I'm coming out into at almost 40 is an understanding that I've been doing gender for everyone else. I wasn’t doing it for me." They emphasize that while the journey can be challenging, it’s ultimately about finding peace within ourselves and embracing the life we want to live.