October is LGBT History Month, a time to celebrate gay icons whose identity and sexuality are otherwise swept under the rug in your average history class.
The LGBT+ community “is the only community worldwide that is not taught its history at home, in public schools or in religious institutions,” according to lgbthistorymonth.com.
I know many people who think gay rights are not a “big deal” anymore, and it is incredibly frustrating to hear things like that.
Not only does that completely erase the experiences of the LGBT+ people all over the world, who are less fortunate than those of the United States, it also downplays the struggles still faced by gay people today.
We live in a world where “straight” is the default, and LGBT+ people are either represented poorly (in most cases) or not at all.
The lack of representation makes it hard to feel normal and seen, and with homophobic people literally threatening the lives of gay people online or in the news, it is hard to feel safe, too.
My brother and I still dress less flamboyantly downtown because we are paranoid after hearing horror stories about LGBT community members being hassled, or worse.
Gay rights will be a “big deal” to me until the threat is gone, just as with any other movement.
Coming out should not be terrifying, but it is.
I am extremely lucky and grateful to have an immediate family who loves and accepts me for who I am, but I am still nervous to come out to some people.
I am fortunate to be out to my closest circle of friends who do their best to respect my fluid pronouns, but that does not make everything less scary.
I am still in the closet to my extended family, and that fear of coming out to them is real. I cannot imagine how hard it must be for those whose parents are not as accepting, let alone grandparents, aunts and uncles.
It was hard enough to come out to my open-minded, accepting mother in high school. I cried and cried.
I know some people who think that “coming out” should not be a thing anymore, but, while I understand and identify with that mindset, in a world where you will be assumed straight otherwise, I would rather come out.
I am more than my sexuality and gender, but it is an important part of who I am, and it should not be erased or ignored.
Any part of me that tries to be more accepting and empathetic is due to my insecurities as a gay person.
The part of me that is so intensely interested in politics and human rights is due to how the people I care about and I have been treated as LGBT+ community members. I am a feminist because of my desire to break heteronormative standards and gender roles.
One day, when I am ready, I will come out to my extended family members.
Until then, I am happy to know for certain that I at least have supportive, accepting people surrounding me, and I will always value the movement toward acceptance and equality.
