Bravo Insider Exclusive!

Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, sweepstakes, and more!

Fredrik Eklund Shares Heartfelt Coming Out Story: "Once It’s Set in Motion, It’s Liberating"

The #MDLNY agent gets personal about his journey.

By Jocelyn Vena Oct 13, 2015, 2:00 PM ET

Just in time for National Coming Out Day, Million Dollar Listing New York agent Fredrik Eklund opened up about his own journey. Fredrik took to Instagram to reveal how he opened up to his friends and family about his sexuality before he moved to New York City in 2000. "The last 24 hours I've seen so many beautiful posts here about coming out," he wrote on Instagram, alongside a photo of himself with his husband, Derek. "No one should ever be ashamed or in pain due to love. So here is my attempt to explain my own circumstances over 15 years ago."

How to Watch

Catch up on Million Dollar Listing New York on Peacock or the Bravo App.

Following his touching coming out story (which you can read in full below), Fredrik had this message for others out there: "Often the things we think are going to be hard are just hard to start. Once it’s set in motion, it’s liberating. I suppose it’s sort of like jumping out of an airplane. The only real resistance is ourselves, our fear of the unknown. Whatever we need to do to live honestly and whatever transition we need to make in order to follow our dreams and be true to ourselves is the path we should take."

The last 24 hours I've seen so many beautiful posts here about coming out. No one should ever be ashamed or in pain due to love. So here is my attempt to explain my own circumstances over 15 years ago: --- Before I left Sweden for New York to follow my dreams, I decided there was one more thing I needed to do. I needed to tell my friends and family about the real me, to âcome out.â I broke up with my beautiful girlfriend, Simone, who was devastated, and I finally gathered the courage to tell my brother, my mother, and my friends that I was attracted to boys. A few months later, after I had fallen in love again, it was time to tell my father. My dad and I had a nice dinner at the new summer house heâd just bought, and before bed, he asked if Iâd help him take the garbage up to the bin by the road. I was incredibly nervous, but it was pitch black out, and I couldnât see him, so that (and the wine at dinner) made it a little easier. ð· I said, âDad, Iâm in love with someone.â He asked me what her name was, and I said, âhis name.â He stopped. He was quiet. Then he said, âFredrik, you are my son, and I will always love you. You can love whomever you want.â My family and friends all proved supportive and assured me they loved me regardless. Without being the true meâboth personally and professionallyâIâd never be writing this line right now. I acknowledge that as difficult as that six month period was for meâquitting my company, coming out to my loved ones, and finally moving from SwedenâI had it easier than many others out there. But hereâs what occurs to me. Often the things we think are going to be hard are just hard to start. Once itâs set in motion, itâs liberating. I suppose itâs sort of like jumping out of an airplane. The only real resistance is ourselves, our fear of the unknown. Whatever we need to do to live honestly and whatever transition we need to make in order to follow our dreams and be true to ourselves is the path we should take. â¤ï¸ #NationalComingOutDay
A photo posted by Fredrik Eklund (@fredrikeklundny) on Oct 12, 2015 at 5:49pm PDT

Check out some more deep thoughts from Fredrik, below.