Identity
Queer Without Community
I grew up in a small rural town that consisted of mainly heteronormative citizens whose main focus was the high school Friday night football game. Everyone in town either worked as farmers, factory workers, or the just above minimum wage jobs of keeping the local stores running. As a kid the main entertainment was going to the park or a friend’s house, as a teenager it was driving around with no where to go on back roads avoiding horse and buggies, and as adults it was hitting one of the two places in town that served alcohol.
By Shelbi Thomas4 years ago in Pride
Mamas secret
For any mother, despite knowing your imperfect, you want to do the best and be perfect for your children. What happens when mother is hiding a secret? A secret that has the possibility to destroy her entire family. The mother loved all children, especially her own. She would spend her time tending to all their need. Behind the dresses, the makeup, the mom bun she felt like an imposter. She always preached to her children to be true to themselves she would love them no matter what. She, however, did not love herself. Could it be that she was a tad overweight? Did her parent not dote on her enough?
By Marilyn Mortician4 years ago in Pride
I am not a girl
Like most people, my journey to self-understanding was a long one. Unlike most people with journeys like mine, I didn’t spend my entire life knowing I was different. A little backstory: I was raised by people from religious families, people whose beliefs revolved around heteronormativity and gender roles. I played with dolls as a child. My brother played with cars and action figures. Pink was for girls. Blue was for boys. I played along, as a young child with limited understanding of the world. Whatever my parents said, went. I didn’t question, my mom and dad were always so strict when I was younger, always so condescending and manipulative. I knew better than to get on their bad sides.
By choreomania4 years ago in Pride
SULTANA deVILLE
SIGNED ONTO THE 6TH SEASON OF the men's "cut down on women" as dressers in drag, I pulled the name as recommended. "A name to reflect you or your fav thing, and some level of badness!" I went with SULTANAs... some of my favorite fruit... dried fruits, wrinkled and ohhh so sweet. de VILLE? a spin on badness... doing a "bad thing" as per my teachings as a little girl in a Christian minister and missionary led family, "Never go out after things of the devil child." SULTANA de VILLE dressed the part and wagged the swagger boasted by all the famous stage walkers in RuPaul's queendom. The introduction video was prepped and recorded in the one minute requirement, and I sent my application for being on the new show list of cross dressers with all intention of winning a spot among the contestants for being the "new girl" on the block.
By CarmenJimersonCross4 years ago in Pride
Don't speak up now.
It' time again. The cozy kids awake from their deep slumber and get into fight mode. Someone had poked them with a stick. When I say cozy kids, I refer people like those I went to school with. Upper middle-class white, academically educated, able-bodied, mostly catholic, cis-het kids that enjoyed safety, warmth and food growing up. Whoever ticks all the boxes arguably has it quite cozy. Cozy enough to make it easy for them to understand this worlds brutality, its injustices and pain as far-away issues that do not relate to them. Maybe, for some, even cozy enough to understand themselves, however unconsciously, as superior to others.
By Pierre Musa4 years ago in Pride
Self Discovery and Authenticity
Zoe Stoller (she/they) is an award-winning writer, educator, and speaker based in Philadelphia and New York City. They create educational content about the LGBTQ+ and mental health communities, as well as share their stories of self-discovery, to spread visibility and inspire others to be their fullest, most authentic selves. Zoe is a summa cum laude graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, and she is currently pursuing a Master’s in Social Work at Bryn Mawr College.
By Meg Corrieri4 years ago in Pride
The First Time I Came Out To A Stranger
I have never been good at picking up. I joke that I should trademark my flirting style as "Epileptic Cat"; it's tragic and awkward, and I am more likely to fall off of something in the process than not. However, I will recover as if nothing happened and give you a piercing stare that will make you forget anything you just witnessed 5 to 15 seconds prior. Suave? If I want to be. Graceful? If you're looking at just the right time (it will be the 3rd or 4th time I've done the same thing, just so I can make sure you saw me being graceful). Witty? Oh goodness yes; if you like really messed up, sarcastic, dark humor, quoted mostly from Archer, Rick and Morty, Lord of The Rings (Oh come on; "a little late for trimming the verge"?! *snerk*), or you like your Shakespeare in original Klingon (*makes note* - this is the 2nd decade you've promised yourself you'd learn some Shakespeare in original Klingon - get your shit together).
By Erika Savage4 years ago in Pride
