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Teen Comes Out to Family While Riding Splash Mountain

Gina Coming Out
Instagram @ginaslife3

The Happiest Place on Earth was the setting for Gina's coming out—and thousands of people are tweeting their support and approval.

In the age of social media, an authentic act of bravery can get noticed and go viral in a blink. Such is the case with Gina, a teen who spoke to BuzzFeed News about her decision to come out to her family in a unique way.

At 16 years old, Gina said she's known she was gay for about a year. Certain her family would be accepting of her, she wanted to come out in a way that reflected who she is. "I am not the type of person to have a deep, sit-down conversation, so I wanted to tell them in a lighthearted and fun way," she said.

The plan was to make a sign that proclaimed simply, "I'm gay!" (Note the adorable rainbow exclamation point). She brought it with her on a trip with her mom to Disneyland and posed with the sign in one of those silly ride photos they do right before you take the big plunge.

Her father and brother told Gina they had already suspected this was coming, and although her mother did not expect the news, her family accepted her with open arms. Gina then posted the photo to Twitter, and that's where the real surprise came: in the two weeks since posting, the pic has already been retweeted 4,000 times and liked by over 8,000 people.

"I never expected it to blow up like this," Gina told BuzzFeed. "People have responded saying I've inspired them to do the same thing, which I think is the coolest part of it all."

Advocate Channel - The Pride StoreOut / Advocate Magazine - Fellow Travelers & Jamie Lee Curtis

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