JonBenét Ramsey
The unsolved murder of a six-year-old pageant queen has Ryan Murphy written all over it — it's tragic and mysterious, but with a heavy dose of camp.

Suggested POV: Ramsey’s older brother Burke who, aside from his parents, were the only people known to be home when JonBenét was murdered.

David Berkowitz
Over the course of one steamy summer in 1977, a deranged mailman, who called himself the Son of Sam, hunted young women in the Bronx and brought New York City to a standstill. When Berkowitz was apprehended, he confessed to the police and claimed that it was his neighbor’s dog who ordered him to kill.

Suggested POV: Ed Zigo, the NYC detective who apprehended Berkowitz by tracking a parking ticket issued to the killer at the time of his last murder.

Tupac & The Notorious B.I.G.
The East Coast versus West Coast hip-hop rivalry found its figureheads in Biggie and Tupac (respectively). In 1994, Tupac blamed Biggie after he was shot five times. The rappers traded battle rhymes, fueling the fire from both coasts, until Tupac’s death in 1996 in a drive-by shooting. Biggie was murdered in ’97. Police investigations were shoddy and conspiracy theories have overshadowed facts.

Suggested POV: Lil’ Kim, who was a member of Biggie's Junior Mafia crew and shared an intimate relationship with him.

The Manson Family Murders
Psycho mystic Charles Manson and his disciples were responsible for one of the most notorious killings, when they brutally murdered actress Sharon Tate — who was pregnant with director Roman Polanski’s child — and four others in a Los Angeles home in 1969.

Suggested POV: Linda Kasabian, one of Manson’s followers, who acted as a lookout the night of the Tate murders.

Andrew Cunanan
In 1997, Andrew Cunanan went on a killing spree. Starting in Minneapolis, Cunanan sought revenge against former lovers who he felt slighted him. He murdered two men in Minnesota, one man in Chicago, another in New Jersey. Even though he was on the FBI's Most Wanted List, he managed to live in plain sight in Miami, until he shot Gianni Versace outside the designer’s Miami mansion four months after the first murder. Cunanan committed suicide eight days later, leaving behind a number of unanswered questions.

Suggested POV: Andrew Cunanan because Murphy could piece together the known facts and explore his motives.

Tonya Harding vs. Nancy Kerrigan
Though the Harding versus Kerrigan case isn’t, like many crimes on this list, a murder, it still became a media sensation. And, what’s more satisfyingly meta than watching a fictionalized account of a nation obsessed with watching the downfall of a public figure? (Hello, Gone Girl.) Harding's husband hired a man to attack her fellow figure-skating competitor Nancy Kerrigan as a means of knocking her out of the Olympics. Kerrigan wasn’t, but her very public cries of “Why?” — and the subsequent fallout — became a headline news. The scandal played out for the better part of the year. It’s a good-girl-gone-bad story — Murphy gold.

Suggested POV: Shawn Eckhardt, Harding’s bodyguard and the man who whacked Kerrigan’s leg.

John Wayne Gacy
One of the most notorious serial killers ever, Gacy was responsible for the torture and murder of 33 boys and young men between 1972 and 1978. While some bodies were discovered in a nearby river, others were hidden underneath the floorboards in his house. When Gacy wasn’t committing heinous acts, he worked as a clown at children’s birthday parties. He was executed in 1994.

Suggested POV: Carole Hoff, the woman who was married to Gacy during a portion of his murder spree.

The West Memphis Three
In early May 1993, the bodies of three eight-year-old boys were found in a wooded area in West Memphis, Arkansas. Three teenagers were convicted of murder, and the so-called leader of the group, Damien Echols, was sentenced to death, despite botched police work and little evidence connecting them to the crime. The case came to the national spotlight thanks to the HBO documentary series Paradise Lost, and in 2011, the three men were released from prison. The boys' murderer was never found.

Suggested POV: Terry Hobbs, the stepfather of one of the three murdered boys, who was also considered a suspect.

The Black Dahlia
Aspiring actress Elizabeth Short’s gruesome murder has been the subject of Hollywood sensationalism since her body was discovered in a ditch outside of Los Angeles in 1947. The famous Black Dahlia was featured in American Horror Story: Murder House (season 1), but with a storyline loosely based on fact. Murphy’s new crime series could explore the way the press influenced the search for her murderer.

Suggested POV: LAPD homicide detective and crime author Steve Hodel, who believed his father was behind the murder of Elizabeth Short.

The Death of Natalie Wood
In the fall of 1981, the Rebel Without a Cause actress' body was found floating off Catalina Island. She had been vacationing on a yacht with her then-husband Robert Wagner, and Christopher Walken, who she was allegedly having an affair with. Despite the suspicious circumstances of her death, no arrests were ever made.

Suggested POV: Dennis Davern, the captain of the yacht, who admitted years later that he heard Wagner and Wood arguing the night of her death.

Pamela Smart
The trial of Pamela Smart for the murder of her husband Greggory Smart became a media fixation in the early ‘90s. (It also was the basis for 1995's To Die For.) Allegedly, Smart returned home from work to find her husband murdered. She was later accused of coercing her then 15-year-old lover to kill her husband, and was eventually found guilty of being an accomplice to the murder, witness tampering, and conspiracy to commit murder.

Suggested POV: William "Billy" Flynn, Smart’s teenage lover.

The Zodiac Killer
A man in a mask stalks the streets of San Francisco for nearly a decade, claiming victim after victim, while taunting police with a series of cryptograms. To this day, his identity remains unknown. Hollywood has long mined the juicy mystery, most recently in David Fincher’s 2007 procedural Zodiac, but no doubt Murphy could make it his own.

Suggested POV: Paul Avery, the San Francisco Chronicle crime reporter who covered the case at great lengths.

Lizzie Borden
Borden was accused of brutally murdering her father and stepmother in 1892 with axe. She was later acquitted, but her story continues to cull intrigue today. Murphy would do well to, erm, take a whack at it.

Suggested POV: Lizzie Borden, possibly an axe murderer and later ostracized citizen of Fall River, Massachusetts.

The Saint Valentine's Day Massacre
In perhaps the single most violent event in the history of organized crime, seven men were lined up against a wall and murdered execution style. It was the final coup in Al Capone’s all-out siege on the Chicago underworld. Capone was never charged for his involvement.

Suggested POV: The notorious mob hitman Albert Anselmi, who was believed to be one of the gunmen.

Amy Fisher
The tabloids exploded in 1992, when a 16-year-old Fisher shot Mary Jo Buttafuoco in the head. Fisher was having an affair with her victim’s husband, and served seven years in prison for attempted murder.

Suggested POV: Eric W. Naiburg, Fisher’s one-time lawyer who reportedly had an affair with his client before ultimately being fired.

Try a semi-permanent beauty treatment.
There are certain morning routines that you can't skip. And, for those of us who aren't blessed with caterpillar brows à la Cara, making sure you have eyebrows is one of 'em. Rebecca Perkins, founder and owner of makeup salon Rouge New York, suggests doing a beauty treatment that requires minimal upkeep, like brow tinting. "Tinting your brows once a month means you can forgo the makeup step of coloring them in every day," she says.

To maintain the tint, you just have to swipe on Giella Custom Cosmetics' Brow Tint, a color mascara made specifically for your brows.

Streamline your bag switch.
Some might call it crap, we call it essentials. For the necessities you need to have in your bag at all times, keep them organized in small pouchettes. “That way, when you change your tote bag, you don’t spend ages rooting through a bottomless bag to find a million individual items,” says stylist Laura Pritchard.

Clear out your medicine cabinet.
In your morning daze, it's hard enough to remember to brush your teeth, let alone which skin beauty product goes where and in what order. Skip the bottle pile-up for a one-and-done product like L’Oréal Paris Youth Code Pore Vanisher. The multitasking cream smoothes your skin, makes pores look smaller, and zaps excess oil, so you look flawless even when you don't have time for the rest of your makeup routine.

Stay fit without the gym.
No time is no excuse for not working out — especially if you don't have to hit the gym. The People's Bootcamp founder and trainer Adam Rosante suggests sneaking in this four-minute routine in the morning, which will help set you up to burn more calories throughout the day.

1. Kettlebell Squat
Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, toes turned out slightly. Hold the kettlebell at chest level by the horns (that's the sides of the handle) with the bell facing down. Press your hips back and down, lowering into a squat as deeply as you can without losing the natural curve in your lower back. Press through the heels to return to start. Repeat for one minute.

2. Push & Slide
Start in the top of a push-up position with the kettlebell on the floor outside your left hand. Perform a full push-up. At the top of the move, reach under and across your body to grab the kettlebell by the handle, and move it to the floor outside your right hand. Perform another push-up, this time moving the kettlebell back to the outside of your left hand. Continue alternating the push-up/kettlebell move for one minute.

3. Step & Press
Stand with feet hip-width apart, holding a kettlebell at chest level as per the KB Squat instructions. Step out to the left, and press the hips back to lower into a side lunge. Return to start. Now, bend the hips and knees slightly to lower into one-fourth of a squat, and then forcefully drive back up as you press the kettlebell directly overhead. Lower it to chest level, and repeat the entire sequence, this time stepping to the right. Continue alternating for one minute.

4. Up & Over
Place the kettlebell on the floor, and stand to the left of it. Laterally jump up and over to the right side of the kb. As you land, immediately squat down, place your hands on the floor under your shoulders, and kick your feet back to land in the top of a push-up position. Jump your feet forward, and then jump up and over the kettlebell to the left. Continue alternating the entire movement, side to side, for one minute.

Skip the coffee line.
Need caffeine? Instead of waiting for your caffeine fix every morning, try a cold-brew. "It's lower in acid than regular coffee," explains Paige Gregor, vice president at juice company LuliTonix. To have an iced coffee ready to go every morning, she suggests brewing a batch every Sunday with an at-home machine like the Toddy Cold Brew Coffee System.

Give your muscles a little TLC.
Who has time for post-workout aches that only slow you down? "Mio's Workout Wonder Invigorating Muscle Gel helps your body recover faster after hitting the gym," says Sian Sutherland, co-founder of Mio Skincare. Plus, smoothing it on gives your muscles an immediate energy shot to get you moving in the morning.

Don’t stop for a shoe swap.
How many times have you had to stop in a stairwell, doorway, or even on the side of the street to take off your commuter footwear, dig your real shoes out of your tote, and balance on one leg while stepping into them? Avoid the hassle with slip-on sneaks that are quick to kick off but fashionable enough to keep on, suggests Pritchard. “Vans-inspired sneakers are having a moment, and they look just as good with sheath dresses or silk chiffon as they do with jeans and a leather moto. [And, if they have] texture, like these Joie kicks, the shoes look more stylish than athletic.”

Spray and go.
When life gets so busy you have to schedule in your shower times, lotioning up your whole body can seem like a luxury. Instead of showing preferential treatment to just your knees and elbows — or skipping the step altogether — opt for a spray bottle that covers your skin in seconds. We like Vaseline Spray & Go Total Moisture, which doesn't leave a greasy residue like some other lotions. Just spray and rub: the easiest two-step of all time.

The living room area is mostly neutral and understated, which is why the plush rug and luxurious throw and pillows are the perfect accessories.

Looks nice, keeps you warm, makes you feel like a Swedish interior designer.

Never underestimate the beauty of a few well-placed objects.

Leather pillows are a nice texture to add to a comfy living room. But, fake skin choices provide the same cool look.

We adore this leather ottoman, but we were psyched to find a faux one in python print! Not to mention the faux fur ottomans we discovered.

When we think about decorating small spaces, we think of decorating with mirrors.

Related: The New Man Repeller Office

The truth is, a mirror can stand as a work of art if you want it to.

Every time we post a project with a deer head in it, someone comments about how annoying and overdone the deer head-as-design-element is. But, this time, it’s very appropriate! (Faux) fur ottomans add a glamorous vibe to any game room.

It's often all in the details, which is awesome news if you don't want to spend a ton of money on a new couch or coffee table.

— SPONSORED —

Paired with tights and strappy boots, a textural mini can easily transition into something weather-appropriate.

Smoky Beetroot Hummus
Serves 6

Ingredients
3 small beets, about 1/2 lb
1 (15 oz) can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
Juice of 1 lemon
2 tbsps tahini
2 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
1/2 to 1 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
1/4 tsp chile flakes
1/4 cup shelled pistachios, coarsely chopped
2 tbsps chopped dill
French Feta, for serving
Crackers, for serving

Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 400°F.

2. Rinse the beets. Pierce them a few times with a fork, place in a small, greased baking dish, and cover with aluminum foil.

3. Roast until tender, about 45 to 60 minutes. Set aside to cool.

4. While the beets roast, add the chickpeas, lemon juice, tahini, pressed garlic, sea salt, paprika, and chile flakes to the bowl of a food processor. Don’t combine yet. Set aside.

5. When the beets are cool enough to handle, peel them. Dice the beets and add to the food processor.

6. Puree until a smooth (or chunky, if you prefer) puree forms. You may need to add a tbsp or two of olive oil to thin. (I didn’t.)

7. Serve in a wide, shallow bowl, garnished with the pistachios and dill.

Fall Salad With Delicata Squash & Kale
Serves 6 to 8

Ingredients
For the squash:
2 delicata squash
3 tbsps olive oil
1/2 tsp sweet paprika
1/2 tsp chipotle powder
1/4 tsp sea salt

For the salad:
1/2 cup red quinoa
3/4 cup water
1 bunch curly purple kale, stemmed and coarsely chopped
Zest and juice of 1 lime
5 tbsps olive oil
2 tsps maple syrup
1 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp ancho powder
2 small garlic cloves, pressed or minced
Sea salt
1/2 cup shelled pepitas
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup crumbled Cotija cheese

Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.

2. Slice the delicate squash in half, lengthwise. Remove the seeds and reserve. (Roast the seeds, tossed in salt, at 300°F in a toaster oven until crisped and golden.)

3. Slice the squash halves into crescents. In a large mixing bowl, combine the 3 tbsps of olive oil with the paprika, chipotle powder, and sea salt. Toss the squash with the oil mix. Arrange the squash in a single layer on a baking sheet. Roast until browned and tender, turning once, about 15 minutes. Set aside.

4. In a small pot with a lid, add the quinoa, water, and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, covered, then reduce heat to low and simmer until the water has been absorbed, about 15 minutes. Set aside to cool.

5. While the squash roasts, prepare the dressing. Whisk together the lime juice and zest, 5 tbsps olive oil, maple syrup, cumin, ancho chile powder, garlic cloves and a pinch of sea salt.

6. In a large mixing bowl, toss the dressing with the kale, working it into the leaves with your fingers. Set aside.

7. Toast the pepitas in a dry skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently, until they begin to brown and pop, about 4 to 5 minutes. Set aside to cool.

8. To make the salad, combine the quinoa, pepitas, and Cotija cheese with the dressed kale.

9. Top with the delicata squash and cranberries. Serve at room temperature.

Savory Chickpea Pancakes With Smoky Roasted Carrots
Pancake recipe adapted from David Lebovitz’s Socca and inspired by 101 Cookbooks’ Silverdollar Socca
Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients
For the pancakes:
1 cup garbanzo bean flour
1 cup water
2 tbsps olive oil
1/4 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp sea salt

For the carrots:
1 bunch rainbow carrots (about 6 to 8 carrots)
2 tbsps olive oil, plus more for cooking
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp chipotle powder
1/4 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp fine sea salt

For serving:
Greek yogurt
Micro greens or sprouts

Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 400°F.

2. Combine the garbanzo flour, water, olive oil, cumin, and salt in a mixing bowl. Whisk thoroughly to combine. Set aside.

3. Peel the carrots, if desired, and slice them 1/2-inch thick on the diagonal. Place in a large mixing bowl.

4. In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, smoked paprika, cinnamon, chipotle, cumin, and sea salt. Drizzle over the carrots and mix thoroughly to combine.

5. Transfer the carrots to a baking sheet. Roast for about 15 to 18 minutes, until browned at the edges and cooked through but firm.

6. While the carrots roast, make the pancakes. Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add a little olive oil. Measure a scant 1/4 cup of the batter and pour into the pan. Repeat to work in batches of 3 to 4 pancakes at a time. Cook, undisturbed, until the edges are golden brown, about 5 to 6 minutes. Flip the pancakes and cook for another 4 to 5 minutes, until deeply golden brown. Transfer to a plate and cover with a towel to keep warm.

7. To serve, slather a dollop of Greek yogurt and a small handful of micro greens on each pancake. Top with a large spoonful of the roasted carrots. These are best eaten immediately.

Sake-Steamed Kabocha Squash With Miso
Adapted from Japanese Farm Food
Serves 4

Ingredients
3 tbsps miso
6 tbsps sake
1 small kabocha squash, about 1.5 lbs, seeds removed
3 tbsps sesame oil (or use your favorite neutral oil)
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
Gomasio, optional, for garnish

Instructions
1. In a small bowl, muddle the miso with 3 tbsps of the sake. Slice the kabocha lengthwise into thin wedges. (Hachisu recommends 1/8-inch thick, but I found that very challenging with this dense squash.) Slice those wedges in half.

2. In a large skillet over medium-low heat, warm the oil with the red pepper flakes. When the oil is hot, add the squash and toss to coat.

3. Add the remaining sake and toss again.

4. Cover and cook until the squash is tender, stirring occasionally, about 6 to 10 minutes. Add the miso-sake paste, stirring carefully to evenly coat the squash.

5. Garnish with a little gomasio if desired. Serve warm.

Pumpkin & Coconut Milk Ice Cream
Serves 6

Ingredients
15 oz can coconut milk
1 level cup pumpkin puree
1/2 cup brown sugar
3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
1/8 tsp ground cloves

Optional toppings:
Chopped crystallized ginger
Ginger snaps
Chopped nuts, such as pecans, almonds or walnuts

Instructions
1. First, freeze your ice cream bowl for at least 24 hours. I have learned the hard way that under-freezing it will yield something more like chilled soup and less like ice cream.

2. In a medium pot over the lowest heat, combine the coconut milk and pumpkin puree with the brown sugar and spices. Stir just until the sugar has dissolved and the spices are thoroughly incorporated.

3. Pour the mixture into a glass bowl and chill in the freezer for about 2.5 hours. Stir once an hour as the edges begin to freeze.

4. Remove the custard from the freezer.

5. Have your ice cream machine ready. Take the freezer bowl out last. Pour the custard into the ice cream bowl, and churn until it has the consistency of a soft-serve ice cream, about 10 minutes. It doesn’t need very much time at all!

6. You can serve it this way, or let it firm up a little more in the freezer. It will get rock hard if left in for too long, probably because of the water content in the pumpkin puree.

Mulled White Wine
Serves 4

Ingredients
1 (750 ml.) bottle dry, fruity white wine, such as a dry Riesling or Viognier
2 tablespoons honey
6 green cardamom pods
2 cinnamon sticks
2 star anise pods
2 large slices ginger
½ teaspoon black peppercorns
Tools: saucepan, spoon
Glass: mug
Garnish: 1 firm red pear, such as Starkrimson, cored and thinly sliced

Instructions
1. In a pot over low heat, warm the wine and honey. Once the honey is dissolved, add the cardamom pods, cinnamon sticks, star anise, ginger, and peppercorns.

2. Mull, covered, over the lowest heat for about 30 minutes, being careful to not let the mixture boil.

3. To serve, divide the warm mulled wine among 4 mugs.
Add 1 or 2 slices of red pear to each mug and, if desired, garnish with some of the spices used to mull the wine.

Reprinted with permission from Vibrant Food, written and photographed by Kimberley Hasselbrink (Ten Speed Press, © 2014).

Wedding Planner: Bash Please.

Photographer: Jennifer Emerling of YEAH! Weddings.

Wedding Band: Bittersweets. Tie & Socks: J.Crew.

Illustrator and designer Ngaio had a blast creating a hand-lettered invitation suite and menus, travel guides, place cards, and a mixtape, as well as custom stamps and calligraphy. She says, "My favorite element has to be the mad libs rsvp component of the invitations — we got some hilarious responses!"

Invitaton Design, Lettering, & Calligraphy: Bride, Ngaio Parr, Screen-printed by ½ Hazard Press.

Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Marc Jacobs. Groomsman: Jack London.

Ceremony & Reception Venue: Ace Hotel DTLA, Rooftop & Segovia Hall.

Groom’s Suit: Klein Epstein Parker. Shoes: Allen Edmonds.

Her bouquet recipe: peonies, iris, foxglove, ranunculus, poppies, dahlias, anenome.

Florist: Moon Canyon.

Catering: Ace Hotel.

Hair & Makeup: Kacee Geoffroy.

Bride’s Dress: Jenny Packham (Esme) from Everthine Bridal, Connecticut and Lover Wiccan Dress from the Lover Flagship Store, Sydney. Shoes: Acne. Veil: Custom Bo & Luca. Flower Crown: Moon Canyon. Jewelry: Engagement & Wedding Ring: Canturi. Earrings: Kathleen Whittaker. Turquoise Ring: Sarah & Sebastian. Bracelet: Kristen Elspeth.

Is bad to crave cake at this hour?
Chocolate Malt Cake: malt fudge, malted milk crumbs, charred marshmallow
Strawberry Lemon Cake: lemon cheesecake, pickled strawberry jam, milk crumbs!

Cake: Momofuku Milk Bar.

Patti Santamaría of Shoes and Basics goes for the less common but very cool printed sunglasses. Don't be afraid of doubling up on the leopard: As you see here, it can work in moderation.

Ella Catliff's approach to the print: If you're going to wear leopard, you might as well go all-out. Her colorful Sandro dress, paired with an equally bright Whistles bomber, is impossible to ignore.

A very important note about rocking this bold print: You've got to have the right attitude. She might confine the leopard to her clutch, but Audrey Williams of Lulu Linden pairs it with a bold lip and a bold pose, snapped by her friend, Kaye McCoy.

Jess Kirby of Prosecco & Plaid demonstrates how to mix different kinds of prints. Since the leopard is very eye-catching, make your second item much quieter. Jess' striped white blouse does the trick.

If you really don't like leopard prints, go for a very subtle touch. At first glance, your eyes might wander to Gabi Gregg's snakeskin moto jacket. But, let your eyes wander down to the hint of leopard on her toes.

From Swift's Novis topper to her Jimmy Choo booties, this outfit checks out on every level.

Elizabeth Koke, 29, literary publicist & event planner

"I did the cliché thing: I went to my first Ani DiFranco concert and had a religious experience, watching these two girls intensely embrace each other during a performance of 'Swan Dive.' I don't think I was thinking, I am gay, but it was definitely, I am this. I don’t know what this is, but I identify with it.

"Coming out was a political act for me in high school. I made posters with the gay-straight alliance like, 'Queer. Have No Fear!' or 'Gay? That's OK!' We would have layered posters, so when someone would rip one down, another poster would read, 'You just committed an act of hate.'"

"Right away, I identified as femme and as a dyke. I understood 'dyke' was a politicized word — something anti-patriarchal, a feminist thing. I've marched in New York's Dyke Marches for many years, and I’m committed to holding onto that word because transwomen have claimed it as well. I want to be a part of the movement to keep it an inclusive space.

"Even though I liked to wear lipstick, I wasn't a lipstick lesbian — that identifier had no political component. But, now, I just identify as queer. I've mostly dated people of varying gender identities in recent years, so 'lesbian' doesn't seem like the right identifier for me."

Austin McAllister, 24, photographer & musician

"I knew I was gay when I was about 6-years-old — however old you are when you know you're attracted to a person in a non-familial way. But, my first 'I'm in love with a woman' moment came when I was 13 or 14 — it was my friend's mom. I recently found a journal where every page was about her. I definitely went over to my friend's house just to hang out with her mom.

"I live in a religious home, and my mom broke down crying after I told her. She's still never said the word 'gay' — to this day, she'll call it 'Your situation' or 'That thing we talked about that summer.' But, we’re still very close. I speak to her almost every day. I was lucky enough to have a mom who may not like this about me, but who loves me no matter what. I can't imagine what it's like when you don't have that support system."

"Honestly, I never feel a need to say, 'Hey guys! I'm gay!' if no one asks me. I went to a religious college, so I didn't tell anyone there. I go to a progressive church in New York, but I haven't told anyone in the Adventist community back home.

"No one says, 'Hey, I’m straight,' so I don't feel the need to tell the entire church I'm gay. If you are religious, which I still am, your relationship with God is your relationship with God. It's no one else's."

January Hunt, 24, artist

"I have two real coming out stories. Before the first, the woman I was dating and I went upstate to do a fire walk — to walk on hot coals to prepare to tell my mom. Telling my mom about the transition was always my biggest concern because she and I are really close, and we have no other family.

"A week later, we went to my mom's for Thanksgiving. We planned the whole thing out. I went to the bathroom and my partner said to my mom, 'Your child has something to say to you and doesn't want to initiate the conversation. I'm going to go to the car.' I came out of the bathroom and my mom knew I had to talk to her.

"I said, 'I am a woman of trans experience. This is what it means and this is what it doesn't mean, and you are not responsible.' There was a lot of crying and it was very intense.

"She had a hard time initially, and a lot of questions about if I'd be safe in the world. But, by my next birthday, she gave me a card that said, 'To my daughter' and a cake with my chosen name on it. It was a real unconditional love moment."

"My second coming out was on January 1, 2011. I went across every social media platform and announced I was changing my name and going by these pronouns in the future. Period. I was really strong about it. Two weeks later, on the anniversary of me starting to take hormones, I had a get-together with friends and family to celebrate.

"To young people I would say, look deeper into yourself and realize your identity is more malleable than you realize — don't decide on it yet. Approach it with an understanding that you don't have to follow a narrative that already exists. Find yourself, regardless of what anyone else says."

Lula Isfran, 31, works in IT

"I think I figured out I was gay at 22-ish. But, I didn't come out until I was 25. In Paraguay, where I'm from, it's not something you hear about. Coming here gave me the freedom to explore.

"I went back home a couple times with the intention of coming out. But, I called it off each time, out of fear. My family is very religious. Then, I was in New York and doing an empowerment course, and I felt ready to tell them. I called my mother and told her how much I love her, and that I was gay. She said if that's the reason I left, I shouldn't have."

"I'm not a big fan of labels. I don't consider myself butch, but I'm not particularly feminine, either.

"If you can choose a place to come out, it should be New York. There is a great support system here. In South America, there is a strong concept of machismo, and it's very homophobic. It's definitely changed in the last five years since I moved, but it's still not great."

Yan Sze Li, 28, art director

"I grew up in Arizona, which is super-conservative. There were moments in high school when I definitely thought about girls in a more-than-just-friends way, but it was such a sheltered life... At the time, I was like, What the fuck am I thinking? This is crazy! As soon as I came to New York, I started to have crushes on my friends and realized I'm gay.

"When I was 19, I was chatting with my sister online and I was casually like, 'What if I told you I was gay?' She didn't reply for 20 minutes, so naturally I was freaking out. Then, she called and was like, 'What do you mean? Is this is a phase? Are you sure you're not just missing your sisters?'

"After my sister called me, she called my mom, who called my other sister. We didn't talk about it again for a year or two. One night, she came up to me and said, 'I know you're gay. I know you like women. I want you to now it's okay and we still love you.' It was hard, but I felt more free than ever after I told them."

"I definitely think lesbians are completely underrepresented. For example, I go to all these parties, and I love them, but they are always hosted by fabulous gay men or have gay DJs. I know plenty of lesbian DJs, but a lot of people don't book them. I don’t know what it is. Maybe people think lesbians are not as fun. There is a stereotype that lesbians get wifed up and stay in, while gay men love to rage — but it's not true.

"Last year I shaved my head. It's definitely a signifier. A quarter of it was that I had really long hair and it was getting on my nerves. But, also, I was like, I'm gay and no one knows I'm gay! After I did it, lesbians at parties definitely started talking to me more."

Mariah MacCarthy, 28, playwright

"At 16, I was very involved with my church's youth group. We would go on these emotional retreats and people would confess and cry. During one of those moments, a girl was holding me and rubbing my back and saying, 'It's okay. Jesus loves you,' and internally, I knew I was enjoying this for more than purely spiritual reasons.

"And, it turned out she was gay, too. I talked to her and she said, 'Well, I'm gay, so if you want to try kissing to see if you are or not, we could do that.' And, so, we arranged it — like a date to try kissing! But, then her mom came home early, and we never got to try. I didn't kiss a girl until college."

"I told my dad first, after my freshman year of college when I was 19. We'd been having this long, close conversation. [It] was sort of winding down and he says, 'So, is there there anything else you'd like to tell me?' and that was the moment. I took a very long time and said, 'I'm bi.' And, he said, 'Duh.' He had seen how I was around women.

"People who come out struggle with the idea that it will be perceived as just a phase. I don't want to fall into that, but I do want to encourage people to be open to the idea that sexuality evolves over time.

"If, right now, you think you are gay, and in 10 years you end up marrying a woman, or in five years you realize that you want to be in a polyamorous relationship with a man and someone who is sometimes male and sometime female — it doesn’t matter, there are so many options available to you."

Odalis Gonzalez, 27, crisis services manager

"When I came out to my mom, we were at my girlfriend's school fashion show. My mom thought she was my best friend, but she was my first love. We were together from 13 to 19; we met at sleepaway camp. At the show, my mom was like, 'Is something up here?' At that point, no one knew, not even my friends — everyone thought I had a fake boyfriend named Chris. I ended up telling my mom that was my girlfriend, and she was pissed. She is religious and Spanish, and a little bit conservative.

"My grandmother, who is the queen bee of our family, found out and dismissed it. To this day, my grandma doesn't acknowledge it. But, the rest of my family jokes with me and builds relationships with my partners. They're great now."

"Coming out is something you do over and over again. I came out to my mom at 15, but I didn't come out to friends until prom, when I brought my girlfriend as my date. It can be a tough process, but it can also be a strengthening process.

"Every time you come out, you learn more about yourself and about other people. You find out who is in your circle and who shouldn’t be. And, you are being extremely brave. Sometimes it can be rough, but it might be beautiful, and something good always comes from it — whether it be a partner you love or just finding yourself."

M.J. Corey, 24, writer

"The first time I knew I was gay, I was in eighth grade. I had a crush on a classmate — nothing happened, I just adored her from a distance. There was this one moment in the bathroom when she complimented my White Stripes T-shirt and I freaked out.

"I had a lot of family chaos going on, so I didn't think about it. I remember having the thought in the hallway of school: This is going to be something I'm not going to deal with right now because I'm so overwhelmed with everything else. It was very deliberate.

"My freshman year of college, I just knew. I tried to kiss boys but I couldn't do it — I'm a gold-star lesbian. Then I met this girl when I was 18, and I knew it was time. I came out to my mom the next year, at 19, after I fell in love."

"I had been asking my mom for advice about this boy named Charlie. But one night, I called her crying, 'Mom, Charlie is Charlotte.' And, she freaked out. My mom is from a very wealthy family in Minnesota and all of us would get cut out if they found out. I don't think she cared that I was gay, but she was very scared of what it would do to her and her inheritance. It ended our relationship for a while, but I was so in love with this person that I didn't care about the consequences.

"One good thing about pushing through the drama is that it can strengthen relationships. My mom has adjusted, and we joke about it now. It's like that cliché — the harder it is, the more worthwhile it is. I believe in the power of pain, and this started everything for me. It turned me into a writer, and it turned me into a full person. I'm going to be a counselor now."

Yolanda Leaney, 26, DJ

"I'd always been sexually active with women from a very young age — 15. And, I thought they were just my friends, but I look back and realize I had two pretty serious relationships before I was 21 — but back then, we just thought we were best friends.

"I came out at 23, and a really good friend of mine at work was like, 'You know how you talk about Anna, and you know how you talk about Luke? It's different when you talk about Anna.' And, I was like, 'No, no, no' — and then she took me out to a gay bar, and the rest is history. She's fantastic, I owe her my life."

"Once I figured it out, I thought, I have to tell everyone at once. So, I told my brother and my sister, and had them come out to a family dinner with me and did the dramatic, 'So, I have something to tell you…' And, then I dropped the bomb. My mom was like, 'Okay... Okay...' and then she went on the balcony with a gin and tonic and smoked a cigarette. I was like, 'Mom, you smoke?' And, she was like, 'I do now!'

"They got the weird out right away. She asked, 'You like to do those things with girls?' And, I was like, 'Uh, yes.' It was very hard for me, and I was very nervous, but in hindsight, I'm glad we talked about it all right away.

"And, my parents love me to death. My dad just called and invited my girlfriend to Christmas in Australia."

Aaron Madison, 22, student

"The first time I had a crush on a girl was in college. It was a really cool thing. I was like, Oh, my god! My actual coming out was calling my mom and being like, 'I'm going on vacation with my friend Julia.' And, Julia, who was sitting right there, was like, 'You have to call her back!' So, I did: 'Actually, Julia is my girlfriend.'

"My mom said, 'Oh,' and then a long pause. But, she was happy for me, secretly excited. She went out and bought a bunch of books on how to have a lesbian daughter. Things were pretty good, pretty fast. After that, I think I posted on Facebook that I was a relationship with a girl and it was just done. It was really cool."

"I wish I saw more gay women; I wish I could live in a world populated by all queer ladies. I remember when I cut my hair short for the first time — I had really long hair before college — and my mom was really mad. I talked to my girlfriend a lot about that, how young lesbians figure out they're gay and then turn really butch because that's what lesbians are 'supposed' to look like. It's cool to remember that there are different ways to do it.

"I like to remember that being gay doesn't have to be totally in the context of relationship. Like, I would still be gay if I didn't have a girlfriend. I think about what makes me gay all the time. It's that I'm a person in this world who revels in being outside of normal... It's about wanting something other than a nuclear family, not wanting to propagate the world with my youngins."

Cindy Ho, 27, designer

"I had a lot of crushes. When I was 4-years-old, there were these neighborhood girls, and I remember suggesting we all take a bath. In high school, it was always on the foreign exchange girls. I remember one Icelandic girl in particular…

"When I was 21, I moved to China with a woman. My parents thought I was just moving for the hell of it. I brought her to lunch with my parents, and I was passing her off as my friend. I remember my mom asked how old she was, and if she had a boyfriend. When I said no, my mom warned me to be careful — what if she tries to make you her boyfriend? We actually broke up two months after I got there, but I stayed in China for another year."

"I still haven't talked to my parents, but I think they suspect. Once, I was very depressed, when I was 18, and I was crying. My sister asked, 'Are you gay?' But, I wasn't ready to tell her, so I said no. I remember she was relieved.

"Coming out was never a conversation — more of a 'by the way' kind of thing. When I first started to explore physically, I'd tell friends, 'I hooked up with so-and-so' who is a girl. I still haven't had a formal coming out. It's a constant thing; it can depend on my haircut or who I'm with."

Kate Hotaling, 35, freelancer

"I like to joke that I'm ethnically gay — I come from the gays.

"My sister was a huge tomboy, and when she was going to college, she had told me she was a lesbian. I hid that from my family for about two years until she had a bit of a breakdown after a breakup. On my mom's birthday, my sister walked into the house and announced, 'Hey mom, happy birthday. I'm a lesbian. I tried to kill myself.'

"My mom freaked out. We come from an Irish Catholic background, so even though my mom had gay and lesbian friends, the fact that her daughter was a lesbian didn't sit right with her. My dad — to make my sister feel better about things — confided in her that he had boyfriends when he was younger. He didn't say he was gay then, but suddenly a lot of things started to make more sense.

"Because of all that, when I started to awaken sexually myself, I felt like I had to be the normal kid. My sister was a lesbian, my dad was gay and hiding it from my mom. As the normal kid, I felt like I had to have a boyfriend. I [had to] go to college. I had to be the normal kid."

"I don't really label myself as anything. I've dated girls. I have sex with girls. I'm in an open relationship with my boyfriend, but I've never been at a point where I wanted to be labeled as bisexual polyamorous, which I guess is what I am.

"Being the 'normal kid' isn't the safe way to go. Trying to be the normal kid definitely hurt me. At the age of 35, I am finally realizing that. If I could go back, [I would] tell 22-year-old me to just be myself."

Carrie Nelson, 28, producer

"In high school, I woke up one day and was like, Oh my god. I'm gay. It came about after my boyfriend and I had gone on a date to see Love Actually, and he was trying to fool around with me, and I was staring at Keira Knightley. It was a sign.

"I came out to my parents, and they were like, 'Okay, we kind of assumed this was coming — but don't ruin his Christmas.' So, I told my boyfriend on December 26. I later came out at an assembly in front of my entire high school — and then I took my girlfriend to prom that year. It was progressive, Massachusetts; it was fine.

"And, then, in college I met my husband. We became friends when we were 19, and I knew instantly that I was in love with him — but I was gay, so that was impossible. We started dating a month later. Within the next few months I started identifying as queer, then we got engaged. For friends who had only known me as gay, it was really hard. I lost some friends in the process."

"I think that female bisexuality is seen as something that women dabble in [when they're] in college, and then they settle down with a man. I think that's what people read me as doing, as opposed to seeing the fact that I was — and am — very involved in queer activism and queer politics. That's still a huge part of my identity. Instead, people assumed that getting married meant I had just been messing with these women who were actually gay.

"I've learned that my experience of coming out multiple times as multiple different identities is really not uncommon. A lot of people change the labels that they use over the course of a lifetime. But, I hope people become less afraid of the word 'bisexual.' I think it’s a great word, and I think it's stigmatized for a lot of really terrible reasons. If I could emphasize anything, it's the fact that people should not shy away from that word if it truly reflects their experience."