Found Family: My Lifeline
“People aren’t out there with a stamp and an ink pad claiming random people whom they feel any sort of connection to as family. It’s so much more than that!”
Keep It on the Low
“I didn’t even know if I should have said anything because I didn’t want to put myself in another situation, if this even was a situation. Clearly, it was. I just couldn’t find my bearings at the time. Thankfully, I did, though, and the final straw was the lighter.”
What Will October Bring?
“… a man came inside and sat at the bar a few seats away from me. Then, he started talking to a woman next to him …. Now, you know me. I was totally eavesdropping. I had to know …”
Gay as an Insult
“Now, in my big age, I know what I was called is a derogatory term, a slur, that’s meant to hurt. After that day on the bus, I’d see her in the halls at school, sometimes with her boyfriend, but I never spoke to her again.”
I’m Not Fine, and That is Okay
“For a split second, I thought about giving that generic answer, “I’m fine,” but it just didn’t seem right because, quite honestly, I would’ve been lying. I also didn’t feel the need to sugarcoat how I was truly feeling. So, I gave him an honest answer.”
How Does That Make Sense?
“I couldn’t believe my ears. Honestly, I felt like I was in the twilight zone. I’ve been on this earth for a while now, but it was the first time I ever heard this concoction of ignorance.”
Disguised Unacceptance
“‘Do we feel accepted, safe, or seen in the mainstream LGBTQ+ community?’ … all but one answer was the same and similar to my own: No…”