Empowerment

I Didn’t Disappear. I Refused.
They outlawed my name first. Not the one on my ID — that one they kept, with its masculine “Matthew” and that stiff, false “M” stamped next to sex, like a scar carved into paperwork.
By Rukka Nova10 months ago in Pride
In the Face of Erasure
I need to forget myself,” Jordan said, their voice barely above a whisper. They sat in the sterile chair, fingers fidgeting with the edges of their sleeve, their eyes staring ahead, unfocused.
By Shoaib Rehman10 months ago in Pride
Unapologetically Me...Now
Happy Pride, Vocal readers! I love this time of year, because it's a reminder to conservatives and anyone who heavily dislike us that we aren't going back in the closet. At least, not in the foreseeable future. Our voices will grow even louder, and we refuse to shut up.
By Mark Wesley Pritchard 10 months ago in Pride
Pride Is Joy
Introduction This is a microfiction for the challenge below: This is not so much a microfiction as a series of observations based on some people that I know and have known.
By Mike Singleton 💜 Mikeydred 10 months ago in Pride
Coming Out Again: Beyond All the Labels
I came out the first time when I was sixteen. It was chaotic, emotional, and transpired clumsily in the passenger side of my mom's minivan following a tense family dinner. The words fell from my lips, awkward and weighed down with years of stifled worry: "Mom, I think… I think I'm gay."
By Get Rich10 months ago in Pride
Meet our messy love
A/N: This is an unrelated excerpt of a sequel, The Loser, to my upcoming novel, Silent Bites, which is going to be published this July. I hope you enjoy!! Pre-order Silent Bites here. Please share the link and if you do get a copy of my book, I’d love your feedback and review!! Thank you all so much for your support!
By Melissa Ingoldsby10 months ago in Pride
Two Aces Talking Smut. Top Story - May 2025.
You know it's True Love when your partner listens to you ramble about your writing woes without ever once begging you to shut up.
By Natasja Rose10 months ago in Pride
A Life in Three Parts. First Place in Pride Under Pressure Challenge. Content Warning.
The world is fuzzy. You think you’ve been here before, or maybe this isn’t the first time you’ve woken up. There’s beeping. Voices in the distance—hushed. You don’t think you’re allowed to know what they’re saying. You don’t care.
By River and Celia in Underland 10 months ago in Pride
The Truth Beneath the Northern Lights
Janice Liu had grown up in a household where achievement wasn’t just encouraged—it was enforced. The daughter of Chinese American immigrants in the bustling suburbs of New Jersey, Janice was raised in a home characterized by discipline, deference, and diligence. Her parents, both engineers, believed in structure, order, and the absolute necessity of excellence. Her path, as they envisioned it, was straightforward: top grades, a prestigious university, and a respectable, high-earning profession.
By Anthony Chan10 months ago in Pride
Rising from the Ashes. AI-Generated.
In a small, weathered town where hope often felt like a distant dream, two brothers, Jaya and Rian, faced a crumbling world. Their family had fractured—parents separated, debts piling high, and relatives scattered, each battling their own struggles. The streets were unkind, offering little mercy to those already down. Jobs were scarce, and the weight of survival pressed hard on their young shoulders.
By Rofiq Samanhudi10 months ago in Pride
Finding My True Family
Greetings, Vocal readers! I've been very open about who I am for the last several years in numerous stories. I fully embrace my true self daily and unapologetic for it. Despite Republican politicians increasingly attempting to silence and denying our existence, our voices will grow even louder. I'm going to tell a story about how an event changed my life forever. Be sure to sound off in the comments below and be sure to like this story once you have read it. If you have any questions about what I look for in a guy, please also share them down below. Also, follow me on my socials. Finally, please send me a one-off tip at the end of this story to support my work as I continue to write and publish more stories.
By Mark Wesley Pritchard 10 months ago in Pride
Intersectional Mental Health Disparities. Content Warning.
This is a researched opinion paper for a Social Services & Behavioral Health class, and I figured that I wanted to share it with the world. I believe that the points touched upon in this paper are valid, now more than ever in this political climate.
By C.M.Dallas10 months ago in Pride