Happy pride month! Last June I created a “Pride Animal” a day, this year I’m embarking on a different kind of art-a-day to celebrate pride. Every day in June, I will be posting an illustration that highlights an LGBT+ activist who I believe everyone should know. This series will be in no way comprehensive, but I hope to bring some awareness to those who have paved the way for this to be a month of celebration. I hope you enjoy learning about these individuals as much as I have enjoyed researching them!
The first activist I’ve chosen to spotlight is Barbara Gittings, you can learn more about her incredible achievements and activism here:
LGBTQ folks have been expressing their struggles through the arts for years. Every year FIERCE hosts a night on the pier filled with talented LGBTQ youth expressing themselves through song, dance, spoken word, or any art form they desire. And this summer is ALL ABOUT SAFETY!
*If you are a LGBTQ youth of color between the ages of 13-24 and want to share how you keep safe, what safety means to you - or anything safety related, we are calling you to the stage huntyyyy!*
Interested in performing? Email [email protected] with all performance information BY JULY 11TH!
We’re looking to go into schools, community based organizations, and service providing organizations to conduct know your rights trainings and/or youth organizing workshops for LGBTQ youth starting on these dates: Dec 16th, 17th, 19th, & 20th.
So, if you work with LGBTQ youth and want us to come through to your space, contact Organizer, Lee Jimenez at [email protected] or Lead Organizer, John Blasco at [email protected]!
We look forward to working with you. Feel free to spread the word!
There’s literally no point in telling teenagers online that gender ‘does not exist’ and therefore their gender is also ‘fake’ and that they /are/ their biological sex. I was there. I was a dysphoric teenager. I did not see how I could possibly not be an FtM; everything fit. Random people online sending me messages about how I was actually ‘just’ a lesbian did not make me change my mind or reconsider things. In fact, it just made me more convinced that I’d have to show everyone what a good guy I could make. And that’s what I did. It worked for quite some years.
Now I’m in my late twenties and I identify as a lesbian; not as an FtM anymore. It hurts to see people approaching those with gender dysphoria the way I was approached, as it doesn’t make anything better. It only made me bitter.
What does help, is to see diversity. Different stories. Know that there are many options. Feeling understood; that you’re not alone.
