“Coming out, at times, felt impossible.” LGBTQ+ people come together for candid podcast

More than a dozen LGBTQ+ people from across the UK have come together to share their personal stories of coming out, navigating faith and building families in a powerful new podcast series launching this month.

The thirteen contributors, whose ages range from their early twenties to their mid‑forties, live across the country from London to Glasgow and bring with them a rich variety of experiences. Some also reflect on coming out overseas, in places as far apart as Colorado in the United States and Bangkok in Thailand. Their reflections are heartfelt, inspiring and often deeply moving, with each person hoping their story will help young LGBTQ+ people gain confidence in living openly.

The series, titled It Gets Better UK – The Podcast, launches during LGBTQ+ History Month. Episodes will be released weekly from Monday, 9 February, on Amazon, iHeart Radio and Spotify. Two episodes will go live on launch day, with subsequent instalments following each week.

Each episode focuses on a specific theme, covering topics such as the emotions surrounding coming out, sharing the news with friends, navigating family reactions, coming out at school or university, and the complexities of coming out in the workplace. Contributors also speak about experiences of coming out within faith‑based communities and the increasingly common journey of coming out online.

Sarah Cosgriff, from Wiltshire, who identifies as asexual, appears in the episode discussing coming out at work. Reflecting on her decision to take part, she said she had once relied heavily on hearing others’ stories while trying to understand her own identity. “There is such a diverse range of experiences within the asexual community, and I am not going to relate to all of them. This is one reason why I think it's important to share my story, but I also think of doing it for the younger version of me,” she said.

Therapist Dhiren Doshi‑Smith from Loughton, Essex, features in the episode on coming out to family, where he speaks candidly about doing so as a person of colour. “Growing up as a person of colour in a community where queerness was taboo, coming out felt dangerous, isolating, and at times impossible,” he said.

“There were very few stories that looked like mine, and silence often felt like survival. I wanted to be part of this podcast so other queer people of colour can hear that they are not broken, they are not alone, and that life does not always stay as small or painful as it can feel in those early years. Representation matters, especially when it comes from lived experience, and it really does make a difference to hear that it can and does get better.”

Also sharing her story in the episode on family is Kate Doak‑Keszler, who described her own coming out as a positive journey. She said: “I was so lucky to come out to an accepting family. Now as a parent myself, I hope to be the same kind of safe place for my kids, and to encourage other parents to embrace who their children are, to know other families have made this journey before.”

The podcast is produced by It Gets Better UK volunteer Ross Wilsher, a wedding photographer based in Chelmsford, where he lives with his husband, James. Wilsher described his own coming out experience as “a challenging process” and hopes the podcast will serve as a meaningful resource for young people. “I hope that with this podcast we have created a resource that will help young people of all identities feel better equipped to live a more authentic life,” he said.

It Gets Better UK is a charity dedicated to uplifting, empowering and connecting LGBTQ+ youth. It works to create a world where young LGBTQ+ people feel confident, valued and supported within their communities.

Dr Alex Rhys OBE, founder of It Gets Better UK, said the stories featured in the podcast capture the essence of the charity’s mission. “These stories remind us why It Gets Better UK exists - to ensure no young LGBTQ+ person feels alone in their journey,” he said.

“From navigating faith to building families, from coming out at work to finding authentic connections, each of these voices offers hope and proof that life truly does get better. What Ross and our contributors have created here is a vital resource that will reach young people across the UK and beyond who need to hear that they belong, they matter, and their future holds joy.”

A trailer for the series is now available on Spotify. Further information on the podcast - and how to volunteer, donate, fundraise or get involved with It Gets Better UK - can be found at itgetsbetter.org.uk.