Category: General
-
The dynamics of being out online versus to people you know in real life
We’ve seen it before with Zach, Heidi, Irene, Cody, Bob, Drew and many others — the internet has influenced people in helping them identify who they are, and in some cases, it’s the first place a person comes out. The internet has drastically changed the dynamics within the LGBTQ community and how folks learn about…
· General -
An exploration of intersections: Neurodivergence and being LGBTQIA
An explanation of why neurodivergencies are common among the LGBTQIA population Diversity is a multifaceted reality that includes many marginalized communities. Common diversity includes the BIPOC, LGBTQIA and disability communities. There are intersections between all the aforementioned groups, but recently the focus has been on LGBTQIA intersectionality with neurodivergent individuals. Intersectionality is an approach in…
-
How to ask for someone’s pronouns in the best, most polite possible way
In light of international pronouns day, it seemed only appropriate to address a growing expectation: asking one’s pronouns. Though it sounds rather comical to address something so easy for the LGBTQ community, it may not come as such to others. The Chicago Tribune words it pretty well: “We need to change the narrative that asking…
-
The struggles of coming out and what it’s like to be accepted when you do
By Drew Spicer (He/Him/His) A lot of people don’t often take the time to sit down and think to themselves what it’s like for someone in the LGBTQ community to actually come out, especially if they aren’t part of the community themselves. Coming out is a stressful process. It can cause a lot of anxiety…
-
Hated for who you are: The impact of alienation on mental health
The LGBTQIA community has experienced a tremendous amount of discrimination for decades. For many people, this discrimination starts at home, with their family members, and friends. Unfortunately, when you’re surrounded by negativity- especially when it’s coming from someone who is supposed to love you unconditionally- it can be difficult not to internalize that hate. This…
· General -
Hot take: Get involved in local government to create tangible change
At a recent Oshkosh Area School District (Wis.) Board of Education meeting, public commenters threatened members for being “ignorant or compliant” to a “fake” pandemic and demanded they not require their children to mask on campuses district-wide. Just a few weeks prior, the board walked out of their regularly-scheduled in-person meeting because protesters made their…
-
Being transgender in the UK
By Vicki Faith I read yesterday — with much relief — that the Court of Appeal has overturned an earlier decision to ban prescription of puberty blockers to those under 16 years old who don’t have parental consent. I had been pretty wound up about this and was glad to see that the courts had…
-
Race and gender identity-motivated hate crimes on the rise
A couple weeks ago I got my haircut, and like any other time one goes to the hair stylist, it starts with some rather light conversation, like “How’s your day?” “Any big plans?” “How’s work?” etc. Through all that we got to talking about issues the Black community faces and what my stylist has seen,…
-
We’re on TikTok!
Thanks to the hard work and dedication Robyn has been putting into it, she and the profile deserve its own post. Please consider taking a look on the app @comeoutasyouare to find some great content! Get some behind-the-scenes looks at how we do what we do.
· General -
5 things not to say to trans people: Part 2
Read the first one here. “I like you but most trans people are [negative adjective]. You’re not like that; it’s refreshing.”We are all individuals. There are bad apples in every bunch. Do not define me by the majority or what you’ve seen on the news or heard from others. “Oh so you’re a democrat?”No. Please…
· General -
Fighting for more than equality – an interview with Cathy Renna
By Anthony T. Eaton In 1973, most states had sodomy laws, homosexuality was considered a mental illness and it was not uncommon for youth who came out to be institutionalized. In October 1973, Dr. Howard Brown, Martin Duberman, Barbara Gittings, Ron Gold, Frank Kameny, Nathalie Rockhill and Bruce Voeller founded The National Gay Task Force,…
-
Hot take: Let cisgender folks change their name
Now this is something I can’t find much of around the internet: cisgender people changing their preferred name. However, it came to my attention that it is, in fact, a thing. This therapy website I came across says it very well: “Names and identities are our first impressions. How we dress, the way we wear…
· General -
Hot take: Phase out gender reveal parties
In September last year, a father-to-be was brought to his knees – literally – after a mishap with a gender reveal device loaded with colored smoke to reveal the sex of he and his wife’s baby on the way. The Massachusetts couple got a surprise when the pre-loaded smoke bombs discharged the wrong way, one…
· General -
“I never really came out and I’m married to a man.”
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers Just a few months ago, Heather’s daughter, Corryn, came out to her as pansexual. “I always suspected she was either gay, pan or something else,” she explained. “For her birthday a few months ago, she made a wishlist and brought it to me, turned around and ran away. “The fourth thing down the…
-
Hot take: Normalize using they/them pronouns for strangers
Something came to my mind while attending a week-long event in the city I work in: people use gendered pronouns for inanimate objects and folks they don’t know. Assumptions are still present among an increasingly diverse and accepting community. We’ve heard the loch ness monster (or Nessie) referred to as she/her for as long as…
· General -
6 things not to say to a same-sex presenting couple
Some of us have been there. Hearing all these things we don’t really know how to answer and questioning why someone even had the guts to bring it up in the first place. We’ve compiled just a few but we want to hear if you’ve experienced anything else. Let us know in the comments! “Who…
· General -
Why are we seeing more LGBTQ folks?
Gallup’s latest LGBTQ+ identification poll from February shows that today, 5.6% of Americans identify as LGBTQ+ from 4.5% in 2017. Nearly a decade ago, it was just 3.6%. Why could that be? Fast facts: A majority of LGBTQ+ Americans say they are bisexual (54.6%) 24.5% identify as gay 11.7% of identify as lesbian 11.3% identify…
-
Pride Police: Hidden observations
This year’s pride was pivotal and very different in many ways: We came back from a pandemic, from riots over blatant abuse of power, and it was my first one ever! Yes folks, at the radiant age of 30, I finally went to a pride event. It was everything I hoped and dreamed it would…
-
Sharing your story just got easier
That’s right, folks. You heard it here. If you’re not very social but would still like to share your coming (out) story, follow this beautiful link here to fill out a quick and painless form. It’s all of the same things you’d be asked in a regular interview, just more streamlined and hassle-free. As always,…
Come (Out) as You Are 