What do you think?
Rate this book
Coming Out Party
Celebrate Pride with Shangela (RuPaul’s Drag Race), Nikki Levy (Don’t Tell My Mother!), and six fabulous storytellers as they share heartfelt, hilarious, true tales about coming out.
Coming Out Party, produced especially for Pride Month in collaboration with the acclaimed live show Don’t Tell My Mother!, brings Audible members a collection of uplifting, raw, and hilarious stories from queer actors, comedians, and personalities. Cohosted by beloved drag queen Shangela and storytelling maven Nikki Levy, Coming Out Party is a joyous celebration of LGBTQIA+ people and personalities.
You’ll hear live stories from Grey’s Anatomy star Jake Borelli, whose on-screen journey inspired him to come out IRL, comic Nicky Paris (Wendy Williams), whose high school production of Peter Pan taught him "how to grow up", and comic Daniel Webb, who was so fabulous he never really needed to come out...that is, until he met Barack Obama in a BBQ joint. You’ll also hear stories told from inside the closet (literally, from our makeshift home studios - a certain virus cancelled our live shows, but it can’t hurt our pride). Hear how The L Word’s Rosanny Zayas had her first kiss with the coolest girl in school, how Pose’s Angelica Ross navigated "Don’t Ask Don’t Tell" during her time in the navy, and how author Lisa Dickey came out...to the secretary of state himself.
Pride might look different this year, but it can never be canceled! Listen in!
Coming Out Party, produced especially for Pride Month in collaboration with the acclaimed live show Don’t Tell My Mother!, brings Audible members a collection of uplifting, raw, and hilarious stories from queer actors, comedians, and personalities. Cohosted by beloved drag queen Shangela and storytelling maven Nikki Levy, Coming Out Party is a joyous celebration of LGBTQIA+ people and personalities.
You’ll hear live stories from Grey’s Anatomy star Jake Borelli, whose on-screen journey inspired him to come out IRL, comic Nicky Paris (Wendy Williams), whose high school production of Peter Pan taught him "how to grow up", and comic Daniel Webb, who was so fabulous he never really needed to come out...that is, until he met Barack Obama in a BBQ joint. You’ll also hear stories told from inside the closet (literally, from our makeshift home studios - a certain virus cancelled our live shows, but it can’t hurt our pride). Hear how The L Word’s Rosanny Zayas had her first kiss with the coolest girl in school, how Pose’s Angelica Ross navigated "Don’t Ask Don’t Tell" during her time in the navy, and how author Lisa Dickey came out...to the secretary of state himself.
Pride might look different this year, but it can never be canceled! Listen in!
2 pages, Audible Audio
First published June 4, 2020
7 people are currently reading
157 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
June 8, 2020
This was a lot of fun to listen to!
Coming Out Party was just fun from start to finish. It just gave off such fun, happy, and light vibes. I loved getting all the little stories within it - especially when we got to Jake and Daniel. Ever since I met Jake on Grey's - I fell in love. So it definitely made me smile to hear him on this audio!
Then there's Daniel, oh lord - I laughed so hard about his interaction with Obama. Now I get it, I mentioned two people out of the rest of the amazing people on this - don't worry! I loved them all, seriously I did!! Each story just made me smile and I really loved hearing people talk about their experience of coming out, their first kiss, or just being okay and open with themselves/the world.
Definitely recommend this to everyone because they should listen to it. Oh, and it's Pride Month bitches!
Coming Out Party was just fun from start to finish. It just gave off such fun, happy, and light vibes. I loved getting all the little stories within it - especially when we got to Jake and Daniel. Ever since I met Jake on Grey's - I fell in love. So it definitely made me smile to hear him on this audio!
Then there's Daniel, oh lord - I laughed so hard about his interaction with Obama. Now I get it, I mentioned two people out of the rest of the amazing people on this - don't worry! I loved them all, seriously I did!! Each story just made me smile and I really loved hearing people talk about their experience of coming out, their first kiss, or just being okay and open with themselves/the world.
Definitely recommend this to everyone because they should listen to it. Oh, and it's Pride Month bitches!
June 12, 2020
As a queer person raised by conservatives, you'd think this was right up my alley... but, it wasn't.
Lots and lots of cultural references I had absolutely no frame of reference for.
Some ableist language.
Lots of worship of noted transphobe RuPaul.
Just... really disappointing.
Clearly, I wasn't the target audience for this.
I would give this 2 stars if it weren't for the fact of the general subject matter. I came away actively saddened by it.
Lots and lots of cultural references I had absolutely no frame of reference for.
Some ableist language.
Lots of worship of noted transphobe RuPaul.
Just... really disappointing.
Clearly, I wasn't the target audience for this.
I would give this 2 stars if it weren't for the fact of the general subject matter. I came away actively saddened by it.
June 10, 2020
Very short, very good, funny.
But I need to point out: I am Italian, and my mum never beat me in any way, she's really sweet in fact, so people all around the word please don't get the wrong idea about that!!!! 😉
But I need to point out: I am Italian, and my mum never beat me in any way, she's really sweet in fact, so people all around the word please don't get the wrong idea about that!!!! 😉
June 4, 2024
Coming Out Party
I Picked Up This Book Because: Needed a short read to tie up the month..
Media Type: Audiobook
Source: Audible
Dates Read: 5/31/24
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Narrator(s): Nikki Levy, Shangela, et al
The Story:
Quick stories of coming out, first loves and awkward situations. I enjoyed them as they were all told in a comical style, like you were watching a panel at a convention.
I Picked Up This Book Because: Needed a short read to tie up the month..
Media Type: Audiobook
Source: Audible
Dates Read: 5/31/24
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Narrator(s): Nikki Levy, Shangela, et al
The Story:
Quick stories of coming out, first loves and awkward situations. I enjoyed them as they were all told in a comical style, like you were watching a panel at a convention.
July 7, 2020
This free Audible Original, offered during Pride Month, was a compilation of six coming out stories. This was an enjoyable 'consumed in one gulp' listen that kept me company while I put together a jigsaw puzzle one Sunday afternoon.
June 12, 2023
I got Coming Out Party to continue with my LGBTQ only books for Pride month. This was good but I am left a little underwhelmed. I feel that they could have had a wider variety of representation since the speakers were 3 cis gay men, 2 cis lesbian women, and 1 transgender straight woman. They left out so many others. I think I was expecting a little bit more in depth stuff with the coming out stories. These were more short-ish stories and quips. I absolutely hated the background sound effects and laugh tracks.
I’m not going to review the actual individual stories, because it is not my place to critique anyone’s coming out story. I will say that my favorite to listen to was Jake Borelli.
Overall, I give this 3.5 stars. I enjoyed hearing from Jake Borelli, Rosanny Zayas, Daniel Rugg Webb, Lisa Dickey, Nicky Paris, and Angelica Ross. The hosts were also good. The sound effects were just too much for me and it really took away from my experience listening to this.
I’m not going to review the actual individual stories, because it is not my place to critique anyone’s coming out story. I will say that my favorite to listen to was Jake Borelli.
Overall, I give this 3.5 stars. I enjoyed hearing from Jake Borelli, Rosanny Zayas, Daniel Rugg Webb, Lisa Dickey, Nicky Paris, and Angelica Ross. The hosts were also good. The sound effects were just too much for me and it really took away from my experience listening to this.
July 22, 2020
I loved the personal stories. Very moving, entertaining and inspirational. Reminded me a lot of You Do You, which I enjoyed last year. Same major issue with it was the narrators whome I found boring and at time obnoxious. This was easily a 5 star otherwise. Still I found it overall, very enjoyable.
December 8, 2020
I picked this up to read during Pride month, but I didn't quite get there. I finished it this week. I loved the stories, but the intro to the book and the intro to each story left a lot to be desired. I would recommend the stories, but skip the intros.
June 24, 2020
This was just lovely all around - lighthearted, uplifting, laugh-out-loud funny, immensely entertaining, and just the perfect listen for Pride Month.
July 11, 2020
Funny collection of coming out stories. Loved every minute of it!!
June 15, 2020
Loved it. Wish they had more stories. They were great
July 5, 2020
Entertaining coming-out stories well-narrated by each person. But I feel like it could have been so much longer- there are so many stories to tell and I could have listened for several more hours.
June 15, 2020
Funny, gritty, vulgar and over the top. I LOVED everything about this.
June 13, 2020
I feel like I need adisclaimer. I love anything to do with RuPaul and any queen who has ever been in the show. so I'm not 100% objective. I loved the stories, the banter, and I only wish this were longer!
June 13, 2020
I loved this!!
June 14, 2020
A quick listen, full of heart and humour. 🌈❤️🌈
June 16, 2020
Awesomeness! Amazing collection of short stories... I really wanted more!! I could have listened to 100 more stories if they were all this good. Absolutely authentic, hilarious, and fun. Great pick for Pride month! 🌈❤️
June 12, 2020
A definitely must listen to especially for pride month! Awesome stories from some great people including a little gays anatomy 😉
June 12, 2020
Listened to it. I love the audible originals that come out during pride month. These are such empowering stories of people coming out. Very uplifting.
June 8, 2020
Always appreciate additional perspectives on fellow LGBTQIA+ people. Lovely collection.
June 9, 2020
Free Audible Original.
June 9, 2020
OOOO this was a fun listen.
I love the stories of all those who "came out"
Just goes to show you it doesnt always end badly.
I love the stories of all those who "came out"
Just goes to show you it doesnt always end badly.
June 17, 2020
It's not a book; it's a podcast/stand-up/story telling. But, it's enjoyable with some laugh-out-loud moments as well as some heart-touching ones.
June 8, 2020
Loved this compilation of stories. Some were hilarious.
June 7, 2020
But the greatest of these is charity (love).
What a word.
What a word.
June 5, 2020
Love! Love! Love!
March 20, 2021
An audiobook with different stories about the different challenges etc that the gay, lesbians and transgender community have dealt with
January 7, 2021
This short audio production was the Audible Original released in celebration of Pride Month, June 2020. It took me a while to get around to it, so perhaps I would have enjoyed this more if I had actually listened during Pride Month.
The upside to having two hosts and six stories shared by various LGBTQA+ representatives, is that hopefully there's something in here for everyone. As such, this tries to be lighthearted and fun, but I found myself disgusted by the "funny" tales of rampant drug-use, pornography, and whoring around. I found maybe two stories that I could relate to, but most of them were either horrible or really quite sad.
Nikki Levy did an OK job hosting, once again, but I found Shangela's voice extremely annoying. I want to see more quality content from Audible this year.
The upside to having two hosts and six stories shared by various LGBTQA+ representatives, is that hopefully there's something in here for everyone. As such, this tries to be lighthearted and fun, but I found myself disgusted by the "funny" tales of rampant drug-use, pornography, and whoring around. I found maybe two stories that I could relate to, but most of them were either horrible or really quite sad.
Nikki Levy did an OK job hosting, once again, but I found Shangela's voice extremely annoying. I want to see more quality content from Audible this year.
January 20, 2022
I found a blog that discusses this book and adds to the conversation. https://wherethesunshinehides.com/my-...
This month there are a lot of coming out stories. Audible has a really fun Audible Original this month called Coming Out Party, a collection of stories of gay men coming out. The thing about coming out stories is that it’s not something you do once. It’d be nice to gather the whole world into one room and just make an announcement, but most people rarely have all of their friends and family in one room. Then there are situations like mine where I wasn’t coming out by choice. When that happens, there’s a fair amount of damage control, lying, and a lot of denial.
The first time I realized I might be gay was when I was on the family computer. This was back when no one had internet on his or her phones, and there was just one computer to share among the whole family. I was looking at Google images of Spiderman. I remember this very clearly, because there was an image of a slightly obese man completely naked in head to toe body paint as Spiderman. He was repulsive, but I was grossly interested in him. At 14, I had had my sexual awakening.
A few months later, my dad, a conservative Mormon, was driving me to my date’s house for Mormon prom. Yes, Mormon prom is a thing, and it’s fabulous. It took place in the church’s gym. There was fruit punch and room for Jesus in between every set of dancers.
As we were pulling into my date’s driveway, my dad turns down the volume of my Coldplay cd (The Pussycat Dolls were too sexual, and I wasn’t allowed to listen to Katy Perry because her songs were about homosexuality). Eyes locked forward, he stated, “I found gay porn on the computer.” If ever I’ve been speechless, it was in that moment. I didn’t reply.
“Is it yours?” he asked.
No reply.
“Are you gay or are you just curious?” he asked.
“Just curious.”
I could not enjoy the rest of the night, feeling that my world was imploding. Someone knew my secret. I’d soon start gay conversion therapy, an experience I’ll cover another in a future post. But throughout the entire therapy process, my mom wasn’t in on the secret. She had no idea why my dad was suddenly stressed out all the time, nor did she know why I was going to counseling. Remember, when you’re trying to keep your sexuality a secret, every move is a calculated form of damage control, lying, and denial.
Eventually, my father and I decided to let my mom in on why there was so much secrecy and tiptoeing around. We sat down, the three of us, and I told her. My mother, also a conservative Mormon, didn’t handle the news well. Between fits of sobs, she managed to get out that she still loves me. It was hard to believe that, though, while watching her have a complete meltdown.
Then acceptance took years. She’d ask if I found a beautiful actress cute, hoping that Lindsay Lohan would convert me to being straight. During those years I wasn’t allowed to have my boyfriend around. In college, I wouldn’t be able to bring home my soon-to-be-fiancé.
There was a particular defining moment when I felt that I was let back in the family on my dad’s side. I’ll share that another day because that’s one of my favorite stories, and it deserves it’s own spotlight. But for my immediate family, time was the only thing that made the situation better. We have a good relationship today, 14 years later.
Subscribe to win a $5 Amazon gift card on the first of every month. Just enter your email in the right column.
This month there are a lot of coming out stories. Audible has a really fun Audible Original this month called Coming Out Party, a collection of stories of gay men coming out. The thing about coming out stories is that it’s not something you do once. It’d be nice to gather the whole world into one room and just make an announcement, but most people rarely have all of their friends and family in one room. Then there are situations like mine where I wasn’t coming out by choice. When that happens, there’s a fair amount of damage control, lying, and a lot of denial.
The first time I realized I might be gay was when I was on the family computer. This was back when no one had internet on his or her phones, and there was just one computer to share among the whole family. I was looking at Google images of Spiderman. I remember this very clearly, because there was an image of a slightly obese man completely naked in head to toe body paint as Spiderman. He was repulsive, but I was grossly interested in him. At 14, I had had my sexual awakening.
A few months later, my dad, a conservative Mormon, was driving me to my date’s house for Mormon prom. Yes, Mormon prom is a thing, and it’s fabulous. It took place in the church’s gym. There was fruit punch and room for Jesus in between every set of dancers.
As we were pulling into my date’s driveway, my dad turns down the volume of my Coldplay cd (The Pussycat Dolls were too sexual, and I wasn’t allowed to listen to Katy Perry because her songs were about homosexuality). Eyes locked forward, he stated, “I found gay porn on the computer.” If ever I’ve been speechless, it was in that moment. I didn’t reply.
“Is it yours?” he asked.
No reply.
“Are you gay or are you just curious?” he asked.
“Just curious.”
I could not enjoy the rest of the night, feeling that my world was imploding. Someone knew my secret. I’d soon start gay conversion therapy, an experience I’ll cover another in a future post. But throughout the entire therapy process, my mom wasn’t in on the secret. She had no idea why my dad was suddenly stressed out all the time, nor did she know why I was going to counseling. Remember, when you’re trying to keep your sexuality a secret, every move is a calculated form of damage control, lying, and denial.
Eventually, my father and I decided to let my mom in on why there was so much secrecy and tiptoeing around. We sat down, the three of us, and I told her. My mother, also a conservative Mormon, didn’t handle the news well. Between fits of sobs, she managed to get out that she still loves me. It was hard to believe that, though, while watching her have a complete meltdown.
Then acceptance took years. She’d ask if I found a beautiful actress cute, hoping that Lindsay Lohan would convert me to being straight. During those years I wasn’t allowed to have my boyfriend around. In college, I wouldn’t be able to bring home my soon-to-be-fiancé.
There was a particular defining moment when I felt that I was let back in the family on my dad’s side. I’ll share that another day because that’s one of my favorite stories, and it deserves it’s own spotlight. But for my immediate family, time was the only thing that made the situation better. We have a good relationship today, 14 years later.
Subscribe to win a $5 Amazon gift card on the first of every month. Just enter your email in the right column.
June 28, 2020
The stories included are good, but for something that claims to represent the entire LGBTQIA+ community, the breadth is incredibly disappointing. Of six stories, three are cis allo gay men, two are cis allo lesbians, and one is a trans allo straight woman. Where is the ace and aro rep? Where is the bi and pan rep? I wouldn’t expect this small a collection to cover every possible identity, but I wouldn’t expect it to leave our huge swaths like this either.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews