Be honest, be authentic, be who you are. Too much of our lives we spend living in fear of the judgment of ourselves, our peers, our families.
But in the end, nothing is more liberating than being who you truly are.
I wish I would’ve learned this lesson sooner.
All my life I had grown up, taught that being a lesbian was a terrible thing. That the lgbtq+ community wasn’t doing anything more than trying to call attention to themselves, and they were bad people. That you could pray the “gay” away.
But when I had my sexual awakening, when I realized I wasn’t straight; my head felt like it was going to explode in the process because I didn’t know how to reckon with that truth. I was angry, confused, hurt, wounded, and I didn’t know what I was supposed to think nor feel about myself. I tried to pray this love I had for another woman I had met and befriended in college away. Well, it didn’t go away. I still love her.
I’ve had a couple of interactions where I was catcalled. Once when I was walking down the street with a rainbow beanie a girl shouted: “Hey, queer girl, do you have the time?”. Another time I was wearing a black mask with a rainbow heart on it and some white guy went out of his way to lean out of his car to scream: “You’re disgusting!”.
Honey, I don’t have time for bigotry. And, sir, the only thing that’s disgusting is your bigotry.
Life doesn’t exist in absolutes. In a black and white world, I’m a rainbow. I won’t apologize for that. You should never have to feel bad for who you are or what you feel. You are valid, you are seen, and you are loved.
If you don’t feel that way, find a tribe of people who will embrace you for who you are. Because you are worth it and your life matters. You shouldn’t have to spend your life in a closet. I know from experience that skeletons don’t make for the best company.
If you like this article, check out: https://stories.harnessmagazine.com/come-here/
