Welcome to Gaia! ::

I think I'm ready to come out to a few of my closest friends. I already am sure they'll be okay with it (my group of really close friends has people of several orientations and gender identities, and it's never been a problem), but I'm not quite sure how to say it. I mean, I feel extremely awkward just saying it out of the blue, and... I don't know. (Also, I'm fairly shy in general. Usually I'm not shy around these people, but something like this makes it harder.) So yeah, a really dumb question, but how exactly do I come out to them?

just tell them... tell them you want to tell them something important but you're not really sure how to say it.
and then just say it.
or just talk to a couple of them who identify the same as you...if they're out then they've probably been through the same thing.
smile it'll work however you do it
and if it doesn't... you'll always have us, right?

i know that really doesn't seem all that comforting but looking from your situation there really isn't anything bad that could happen.

good luck!

yay! i'm happy for you!