Our Summer : My Truth

{54} Pride

I have been meaning to write something in recognition of Pride Month but I never got around to it. But I figured as every month is pride month and as every month provides us an oppotunity to be proud, I would write something and upload it in July. Now it's August so I guess that says a lot. Just as a heads up this will not be written in the format of a poem.

I have always been different. That's how most stories start when the narrator embraces a part of their identity that many cannot identify with. This story however, my story does not follow such pattern. I was a basic kid. Nothing special. Nothing fancy. I grew up happy, surrounded by a loving community. Yet what I didn't know is that my actions were unique. I never knew my thoughts and feelings differed from most of the population. I had crushes on females and that was normal for me. I had crushes on males which annoyed and angered me but I got over it. Looking back, it would appear as if I never wanted to like males. Like I wanted to be lesbian. But I never knew what that was. It was just feelings of a really small girl who was going through life just like the rest of the world. I grew up always supporting the LGBTQ community but always from an outside perspective.

Recently during the month of June I watched Tales of the City on Netflix. I definitely recommend it!!!! I was sad one Tuesday night and upon watching a recommended video on YouTube I decided that I would watch the Netflix series. At midnight I embarked this life changing journey. It was 10 episodes long and I completed it all on that Wednesday. When you don't fully embrace a part of your identity it eats away at you. And sitting there, curled up in my bed watching this beautifully written show I felt empowered to come out and say this is me.

I'm not writing this to come out of the closet because I've always been out I've just never mentioned it. I'm writing this to say, DON'T IGNORE WHO YOU ARE. DON'T HIDE FROM YOUR TRUE SELF. DON'T LOSE YOURSELF.

There's beauty in embracing your identity. There is strength in reveling in a community that fully supports and understands you. Find your community. Find your crowd. The love and pride you will feel is indescribable.

Love

D.O.