Pride Month
Why do we celebrate pride?
Before Stonewall, "Reminder Day Pickets" took place in order to regain the rights to work for the government. Many LGBTQ+ people were fired due to their sexual orientation so silent protests were held every year in hopes to gain this right back. With oppression still continuing, a riot eventually broke out at the Stonewall Inn on June 28th, 1969. Protesting and riots continued for 6 more days. This served as a catalyst for the Gay Rights Movement. Yearly marches were then held to commemorate stonewall. Watch this video to learn more about the events leading up to Stonewall.
What does pride mean?
The word “pride” can be broken down into two different facets: Authentic and hubristic. Hubristic pride is defined as having an excessively high opinion of oneself with egoistic and arrogant characteristics. This type of pride is unhealthy because it is associated with aggression and relationship dissatisfaction. Authentic pride includes satisfaction taken in an achievement, possession, or association. This type of pride is the more common understanding in reference to pride month. Pride month is a commemoration of Stonewall and the progress of LGBTQ+ individuals. This is authentic pride because it involves a satisfaction of achievement and association to a larger group - and this is something to celebrate! For example; Someone may say “I am proud to be part of a community who values and respects who I am.” This is what pride month is all about - a celebration of authenticity, diversity, and togetherness.
Why is having pride important?
Authentic pride (in moderation) is very important. This type of pride can be healthy because it can encourage us to succeed and promote prosocial behaviors. In terms of mental health, pride can have many benefits including high self esteem, self worth, confidence, and sense of accomplishment. However, moderation is the key. One quote based off of Aristotle explains this:
“Too little is failing to acknowledge what has been achieved—a form of false humility—and too much is vanity.”
Pride Events:
Grand Rapids
Date: June 22
Learn more: Grand Rapids Pride Center
Detroit
Date: June 8-9
Learn more: Motor City Pride
Lansing
Date: June 22
Learn more: Lansing Pride
Holland
Date: June 29
Learn more: Out On The Lakeshore
Muskegon
Date: June 1 at 10:30
Learn more: Muskegon Pride
Grand Haven
Date: June 8
Learn more: Grand Haven Pride
Autistic Adults
How are autistic characteristics in adults different?
Autistic characteristics in adulthood may look differently than in childhood. Characteristics that are more common in adulthood may include:
Difficulty in understanding other people's thoughts or emotions
Anxiousness in social situations
Difficulty in making friends or preferring to be alone
Sounding blunt, rude, or uninterested in others without intending to
Difficulty in explaining feelings
Taking words or phrases literally
Having the same routine and feeling distressed if the routine is not followed
Other characteristics may include:
Not understanding social rules
Avoiding eye contact
Getting too close or getting upset if others get too close
Noticing details, patterns, smells, or sounds if people get too close
Having a keen interest in certain subjects or activities
Planning things before doing them
autism and queerness
The largest study on sexual activity, orientation, and health of autistic individuals reaffirms previous research that autistic individuals are more likely to have a wider range of sexual orientations than non-autistic individuals. The results from this study reveal that autistic people are 7-8 times more likely to identify as asexual or non-heterosexual orientations. It is not very understood as to why this is.
Words of the Autistic community:
Neurotypical - an informal term used to describe a person whose brain functions are considered usual or expected by society. (Rudy,
Neurodiverse - refers to differences in brain function among people diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
Neurodivergent - describes someone who isn't neurotypical
Meltdown - Having extreme reactions to specific situations. When someone is overstimulated, they may lose behavioral control. This can look like crying, shouting, laying on the floor, and sometimes engaging in dangerous behaviors such as self-injury or aggression.
Sensory Processing - sensory problems relating to sights, sounds, smells, taste, touch, balance, and general body awareness. There are two types of sensory processing: Hypersensitivity (over-responsiveness) and hyposensitivity (under-responsiveness).
Stimming (self-stimulatory behavior)- specific, repetitive behaviors that can include hand-flapping, rocking, spinning or repetition of words and phrases
Preservation - repetitive or persistent action or thought, after the stimulus that prompted it has ceased. The person may have difficulty shifting gears.
Masking - camouflaging autistic characteristics
For more words, click here
Autistic Assessments:
If you think you might be autistic, talk to your doctor or therapist if you would like to receive an Autism Assessment. An assessment may help you to understand why you might find some things harder than other people, explain to others why you see and feel the world in a different way, and get support at college, university or get some financial benefits. Before your assessment, Here are some ways you can prepare:
Write a list of the signs of autism you think you have and bring it with you
Ask people who know you if they have noticed any possible signs
If helpful, bring someone with you who knows you well
Purple Ella
Purple Ella is Autistic, ADHD, nonbinary, content creator, and advocate. Check out their video about their experience with the Adult Autism Assessment:
Empowering Survivors of Domestic Violence
What is Domestic Violence?
Domestic violence is defined as “a pattern of abusive behavior that is used by an intimate partner to gain or maintain power and control over the other intimate partner” (Domestic and Dating Violence, n.d). It can be any action that is physical, sexual, emotional, economic, or psychological. Behavioral intentions can be to intimidate, manipulate, humiliate, isolate, frighten, terrorize, coerce, threaten, blame, hurt, injure, or wound someone.
Domestic Violence in the LGBTQ+ Community
Domestic Violence in the LGBTQ+ community can be experienced at the same rate in similar ways as non-LGBQT+ people. However, different obstacles may impact the LGBTQ+ community.
Fear of Isolation - many community members belong to families with traditional values, oppressive living environments, or religious communities. The abuser may use this isolation and have the person be more dependent on them
Shame of Identity - the abuser may play into the person's internalized homophobia and shame them for their pronouns or chosen name. The abuser will use power and control to keep the person in isolation
Fear of not receiving services - In the LGBTQ+ community, minimization of domestic abuse can happen meaning that others might not view domestic abuse in the LGBTQ+ community as legit.
Variation of legal protection - receiving legal resources for domestic violence can vary depending on the state. Impact and state reports can be found here.
What to do if you know of someone experiencing Domestic Violence
If you know of someone who is in a domestic violence situation, it’s important to consider the wants and needs of the person in the situation. They may or may not have acknowledged that they are in a bad situation. Until they acknowledge this and want help, honoring their wishes and boundaries is important in establishing yourself as a safe person. Below are several steps you can take to help:
Ask them what they want - Is there some way you can support them?
Document the abuse every time you hear about it
Create a safety plan with the person experiencing abuse if they are ready
Knock on their door to make an excuse of why you are there as a way to interrupt whatever is happening
“I just ran out of eggs. Do you have any I can use?”
Reach out to the YWCA if you need additional support
Call: (616) 454-9922
Location: 25 Sheldon Avenue SE Grand Rapids MI, 49503
How the YWCA is addressing Domestic Violence
Jenna Schook, the Volunteer Advocate Program Manager, enjoys connecting with survivors when they come in. The YWCA provides services for survivors of domestic violence and dating abuse. The organization is unique in having a Nurse Examiner Program that provides medical forensic exams at no cost.
When a survivor reaches out to the YWCA, they will first talk to a nurse to schedule an exam. During the appointment, they will meet with an advocate (emotional supporter) and nurse while talking over any questions or concerns. A survivor has control over how the exam will go. Nothing is going to happen without the consent of the survivor. If the survivor chooses to give consent to having the full exam, the following steps will take place:
History about the details of the assault or abuse that took place
Physical exam
Discussion over possible medications, safety planning, or different resources
Volunteer with the YWCA
Volunteer Advocates are people who walk alongside survivors throughout the entire process. While anyone who is interested in being a volunteer is encouraged to reach out to the YWCA, volunteers within the LGBTQ+ community are needed. Volunteers within the reflected communities can experience a special connection with survivors that those outside of these communities cannot make. Additional healing and comfort can arise from survivors being matched with someone who reflects their unique identity.
Some essential duties for volunteer advocates include answering helpline referrals when a sexual assault call is made and being in the exam room with the survivor when the nurse calls. Volunteers can generally expect to be on call for one 12 hour shift. Around the holidays, volunteers can expect two 12 hour shifts. If you are interested in being a volunteer, reach out to Jenna Schook at jschook@ywcawcmi.org or go to the YWCA website and fill out an application.
Lgbtq+ specific Resources
Domestic Abuse and its impact on Transgender and Nonbinary Survivors
LGBTQ+ Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Toolkit
Am i experiencing domestic violence
Cervical Cancer Awareness
What is Cervical Cancer?
Cervical cancer is cancer that starts in the cells of the cervix. First, abnormal cells appear in the cervix and go through a process called dysplasia. If left untreated, the cells develop over time and become cancerous, potentially infecting the surrounding area.
What does screening look like?
Depending on the age group, screening is highly encouraged for people with a cervix every 3-5 years. During screening, a pap test is used to collect cells from the cervix which are then examined to determine if the cells are cancerous. Since anxiety is common with these types of exams, options such as being put under or a self pap may be offered.
Concerns about the LGBTQ+ community relating to care
There are many concerns regarding healthcare experiences within the LGBTQ+ community. Suzanne West, an OBGYN, is an affirming provider in the Grand Rapids area who voiced her concern. Her primary concern is that the community is at greater risk for cervical cancer due to the avoidance of care. When screening for cervical cancer becomes a regular routine, cervical cancer is 100% preventable. In fact, cervical cancer screening decreases death by 50%. If the avoidance of care remains unaddressed, the LGBTQ+ community will continue to be at an increased risk. This will have to be a community effort to better educate and equip our healthcare professionals in their understanding of LGBTQ+ Identities.
Why do LGBTQ+ community members tend to avoid care?
According to one study, 1 in 6 LGBTQ+ individuals reported avoidance of healthcare due to anticipated discrimination. To gain insight as to why this is, Suzanne West was asked this question. When asked this question, she stated a couple of reasons for the tendency to avoid care:
Negative experiences or poor treatment from healthcare workers
LGBQ: 6% of health care providers refused to see them due to sexual orientation
Transgender: 29% of health care providers refused to see them due to gender identity
2. Lack of financial support
44% of LGBTQ+ people ages 18-64 were earning less than $13,590 (per individual) per year in 2022. That’s 200% of the federal poverty level
How can healthcare providers adapt to the language for them to feel comfortable?
Healthcare providers can decrease negative experiences with healthcare by adapting the language that is used with patients. For people who have a different gender identity, using less gendered terms may reduce fear. Below are some tips on how language can be addressed:
Use less gendered terms
Example: “Exam” rather than “Vaginal Exam”
Ask: What language would you like me to use to describe your results?
2. Remove fear of the exam
Show equipment used
Communicate simple explanations
3. Use proper names and pronouns
Double-check forms to ensure accuracy
4. Educate yourself about LGBTQ+ language
LGBTQ+ Youth: Unsheltered and Unstable housing
Note: the term “unhoused” is sometimes used in replacement of “homeless.”
According to multiple sources, LGBTQ+ youth are disproportionately impacted by homelessness (Choi, Wilson, Shelton, & Gates, 2015; Durso & Gates, 2012; Morton, et al., 2018; Baams et al., 2019). True Colors United estimates that 7% of US youth are LGBTQ+ while 40% of LGBTQ+ youth are unhoused. This proportion means that LGBTQ+ youth are nearly five times more likely to experience unstable housing or homelessness than the general population. There are four main factors contributing to this overrepresentation:
Family Conflict
According to The Trevor Project, 14% of LGBTQ+ youth were kicked out or abandoned. 40% of those instances were due to sexual orientation or gender identity. 16% of LGBTQ+ youth ran away. 55% of those instances were due to mistreatment or fear of mistreatment due to sexual orientation or gender identity.
Aging out of Foster Care
LGBTQ+ youth who reported past housing instability or are currently unhoused had nearly 6 times greater odds of reporting that they had been in foster care at any point in their lives.
Poverty
Overall, the LGBTQ+ community is more likely to experience poverty than cisgender and heterosexual people. Looking at data from 2020, 23% of LGBT people lived in poverty compared to 16% of non-LGBT people.
Shortages of Shelters and Housing Programs
On any given night in Michigan, there are 8,206 people who are unhoused. While there are 184 homeless shelters in Michigan, there would have to be about 45 open beds in each of these shelters to house all of these people.
Watch this video to learn more about LGBTQ+ youth who are unhoused and how you personally can make an impact.
While many policies in Michigan have been put into place for LGBTQ+ acceptance, there is still much work to be done across the US. Policy change against systematic oppression is needed in order to eliminate youth who are unhoused in the LGBTQ+ community. Here are some recommendations from Mel Moore, an activist, on how policy can help eliminate barriers:
Social support instead of criminalization for life sustaining activities out in public. According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, criminalization activities may include:
Confiscating personal property (tents, bedding, medications etc.)
Criminalization of panhandling (begging for money)
Criminalization for publicly sharing food with the homeless
Enforcing a “quality of life” ordinance relating to hygiene
Research suggests that 48 states in the US has at least one law criminalizing homelessness activities. If we truly want homelessness to be resolved, a focus should be placed on how to provide housing and stability rather than criminalization of life sustaining activities.
Ban conversion therapy in all states. Currently, 22 states have a ban on conversion therapy. Conversion therapy is the attempt to change one’s sexual orientation to straight or one’s gender identity to cisgender. Studies have not shown conversion therapy to be effective but have proven this therapy to be very harmful. Watch this video to learn more about conversion therapy. Conversion therapy can contribute to family conflict, which can lead to further stigmatization and unsafe home environments.
Support organizations that advocate for policy change to end homelessness at the local, state, or global level. Below are a list of advocacy organizations:
Kent County: Coalition to End Homelessness
Michigan: Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness
United States: National Coalition for the Homeless National Runaway Safeline
LGBTQ+ Specific: True Colors United Chosen Family of West Michigan
Resources
How can I help?
Do you need help?
National Homeless Shelter Directory
Locate a Homeless Youth Shelter
Concerned Adults
Service providers
Intersex Identities
The term Intersex refers to a person who has variations of male and female physical, hormonal, or genetic sex traits which can appear at birth or later in life. Intersex people are estimated to be born in approximately 2% of live births.
There is much debate over the ethical practice of surgical intervention for intersex infants. Historically, intersex individuals have been considered “abnormal” and in need of fixing regardless of whether or not the treatment was medically needed. This idea stemmed from John Hopkins University in 1950 when they introduced the “Optimum Gender of Rearing Model.” With this model, typical gender upbringing was emphasized and genital surgeries were highly encouraged for intersex infants. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, genital surgeries should only be recommended if it “[resolves] significant functional impairment or reducing imminent and substantial risk of developing a health- or life-threatening condition.” While surgeries are necessary in some cases, it’s critical to acknowledge the potentially harmful impacts that medically unnecessary surgery can have. It’s important to take note that forgoing unnecessary medical surgeries on infants have no evidence of having psychosocial problems later in life. Especially since the intersex individual can choose to receive these surgeries when they are old enough to consent. Surgeries impacting the genitalia may have negative irreversible effects such as “infertility, chronic pain, inaccurate sex/gender assignment, patient dissatisfaction, sexual dysfunction, mental health conditions, and surgical complications.” One medical personnel shares their insights:
“They [intersex people] get tired [of the entire situation]. Generally, when we see them here it is for another reason or for a complication. They are patients who have been seen and treated many times. They are not coming for a follow up. They don’t want to know anything. They’ve had surgeries, disorders of their sexuality. They don’t have a sex life. They’re not interested because there’s pain, they don’t feel much pleasure, and also because of the surgeries, which are not harmless: they cause adhesions or scar-like tissue, they have abnormal wound healing and [result in] many complications… they don't end up the same.” (Interview 5: medical personnel)
Further supporting this insight, The World Health Organization, American Academy of Pediatrics, twelve United Nations agencies, and several other organizations denounced early genital surgeries from 2010-2017. Although several organizations highly discourage this practice, medically unnecessary genital surgeries are still legal today in the US and may be practiced by medical professionals. Watch this video about how these irreversible surgeries impact the lives of children and their surrounding loved ones.
Resources
for the intersex community
Seeking Medical Care as an Intersex Person
For parents of intersex children
How To Retrieve Medical Records
Know Your Rights: A guide for parents
for medical providers
Ethical Guidelines for Intersex Surgeries
Intersex Affirming Hospital Policies
Affirming Primary Care for Intersex People
advocacy and support groups
learn more about the intersex community
The Do’s and Don’ts of Being an Ally
Watch Every Body Movie trailer
Read XOXY: A Memoir (Intersex, Woman, Mother, Activist) by Kimberly Zieselman
Legislative Toolkit: How to create change in your state
LGBTQ+ US Military History
History reveals where we have walked and where we have yet to travel. LGBTQ+ people have stumbled over rocks and trudged through mud all while dodging tree branches that seemingly never fail to swing towards them. LGBTQ+ military folks in particular may be familiar with these kinds of struggles, not only from bootcamp, but by oppression from the military throughout history. With currently 6.1% or 1.3 million LGBTQ+ members serving in the military, various policies have impacted the environment for those serving.
Check out this timeline of LGBTQ+ US military history overview as we conclude LGBTQ+ History Month and approach Veterans Day this November.
1953
Executive Order 10450 implied the ban of LGBTQ+ people in the military by using the phrase “sexual perversion.” The phrase “sexual perversion” was used to describe those who were not allowed to be employed by the government which led to 7-10,000 lost jobs. The number of people released from service due to sexual orientation is unknown.
1982
A Department of Defense policy was enacted stating that “Homosexuality is incompatible with military service.” This policy prohibited service for those who “engages in, desires to engage in, or intends to engage in homosexual acts.” This was a more specific ban on LGB people most likely due to an increase in community awareness of the LGBTQ+ movement.
1993
The Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Policy was enacted which allowed gay, lesbian, and bisexual people from serving as long as their identity remained unrevealed. It is estimated that between 14,000-43,362 of gay, lesbian, and bisexual people were discharged from the military due to this policy. Factors such as fear, imbalance of power, retaliation, and trauma likely influenced this wider range.
2011
The Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Policy was repealed through former president Barack Obama. Gays, lesbians, and bisexuals were able to serve openly in the military. Although the repeal was a great start, there was still a lot of progress to be made with homophobia in the military. Watch how this policy impacted the LGB population.
2013
The Department of Defense implemented Survivor Benefit Coverage to same-sex spouses of military members and veterans. Official document explaining benefits can be found here.
2016
Transgender people are finally able to serve… well kind of. For all transgender people with no diagnosis of gender dysphoria, they were allowed to serve only in their sex assigned at birth. For current service members, they were only able to serve if fully transitioned. For new applicants with a diagnosis or history of gender dysphoria, or if they had a history of medical transition treatment, they were only allowed to serve if they had been transitioned for 18 months. The reasoning behind the specific rules involves physical transitioning may involve more extensive accommodations than the government was able to provide. For further clarification, see this chart. This content may contain culturally inappropriate language.
2018
Enacted by former President Trump, transgender people were banned from the military unless they were diagnosed with gender dysphoria before 2018 and/or willing to stay in their sex assigned at birth. This meant that anyone who was in transition, who had transitioned, or who was “unstable” in their sex assigned at birth could not be in the military. This ban impacted thousands of transgender people already in the military. Watch how the impending band impacted military members.
2021
The transgender ban was reversed by president Biden allowing transgender individuals and those with gender dysphoria to serve openly in the military. The following provisions were added:
The military provides a process for people to transition while serving
A service member may not be discharged due to gender identity
The military has a procedure for changing a service member’s gender marker
Veteran Healthcare Resources
How to add/change gender or name on va.gov
Veteran Sexual Health and Sexual Orientation
Veteran Health Care for Gay, Bisexual, and Queer Men
Veteran Health Care for Lesbian, Bisexual, and Queer Women
Veteran Health Care for Transgender and Transmasculine Men
Provider Resources for LGBTQ+ Veterans
Veterans Health Administration LGBTQ+ Training
CDC TRAIN: LGB Veteran Health Care
CDC TRAIN: Transgender: Older Transgender and Gender Diverse Veteran Care
CDC TRAIN: Transgender: Care for the Gender Nonbinary Veteran
CDC TRAIN: LGB Sexual Health Care for Genderqueer and Nonbinary Veterans
CDC TRAIN: Healthcare Concerns for Older LGB Veterans
The Overlap of Neurodiversity and Queerness
April is Autism Acceptance Month, so for this month’s blog we want to explore the intersection of LGBTQ+ and neurodiversity more generally. In addition, we’re going to share some tips for providers and healthcare professionals on caring for, treating, and plain ol’ interacting with neurodiverse LGBTQ+ patients. Much like other marginalized groups, neurodiverse LGBTQ+ people face unique barriers to care and suffer due to misinformation, discrimination, and medical mistrust. In order to go beyond awareness of Autism and neurodiversity towards acceptance, we must continue learning how to be affirming allies and break down misinformation.
What does neurodiverse mean?
According to Neurodiversityhub.org, “Neurodiversity refers to the virtually infinite neuro-cognitive variability within Earth’s human population. It points to the fact that every human has a unique nervous system with a unique combination of abilities and needs.” Much like how “LGBTQ+” houses a variety of identities under its umbrella, the term neurodiversity covers a variety of neurotypes and variations of the human mind. The neurodiverse umbrella includes Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), sensory processing disorders, tic disorders, and many others.
What is ableism?
Ableism is a system of oppression that operates on the belief that able-bodied, neurotypical people are the norm, that disabled, neurodiverse people are abnormal and are therefore discriminated against. According to the Therapist Neurodiversity Collective, “Ableism is entrenched in the presumption that neurodivergent and/or disabled people are "broken" and need to be ‘fixed.’”
[image description: a digital illustration of a Venn diagram which consists of 5 circles which overlap in the center. In the middle it says “my friends”. The other 5 circles each have one of the following written in it clockwise : queer, mentally ill, witch, neurodivergent and chronically ill &/or disabled”. In the middle where it says “my friends” there is a hidden glowing pentagram. The background is lilac. ]
The way that we’ve grown to understand neurodiversity, as well as the spectrums of sexual orientation and gender identity, has allowed more and more people to share their experiences and for the topic to gain attention from researchers. In a study published in 2022, researchers found that “autistic people self-reported lower quality healthcare than others across 50 out of 51 items.” The study also found higher rates of a variety of chronic physical and mental health conditions, ranging from arthritis and insomnia to anxiety and depression. In addition, LGBTQ-identifying patients are at higher risk of anxiety and depression, as well as STIs and substance use. While there is still more research that needs to be done on the intersection of neurodiversity, queer identities, and gender diversity, there is evidence that supports the community observation of higher rates of autism and neurodiversity in queer and trans spaces. According to National LGBT Health Education Center,
“Evidence suggests that neurodiverse people, particularly those on the autism spectrum, are more likely to be gender diverse and have a lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, or asexual sexual orientation, compared to neurotypical people. The reasons why are not well understood. One possibility is that neurodiverse people tend to be less aware of, or less susceptible to, societal pressures and gender norms; therefore, they can express their gender identity or sexual orientation without concerns of being judged or fitting into certain roles.”
This intersection of identities can create added stress in non-affirming environments, leading neurodiverse LGBTQ+ patients to avoid receiving care, even when they need it. Acceptance for both neurodiverse and LGBTQ+ folks still has a long way to go, but there are steps that providers and healthcare workers can take to support their neurodiverse, LGBTQ+ patients.
First and foremost, listen to what the patient has to say about their identity and be affirming. Implying (or flat out saying) that a neurodiverse patient may not actually be their identity because it’s a “special interest” or that they aren’t able to properly articulate their feelings is disheartening and even damaging.
Talk with the patient about the terms and labels that they use to describe themselves (if any). Trust that the patient knows themselves better than you or anyone else can, and that their perception of self may not line up with traditional ideas.
Ask direct questions about partners, health, and other important information, as neurodiverse folks are less likely to fill in the gaps themselves.
Want to learn more about neurodiverse identities and their intersections with the LGBTQ+ community? Check out the links below!
Neurodiversity & Gender-Diverse Youth: An Affirming Approach to Care
Neurodivergence as Queerness · Public Neurodiversity Support Center
Reporting Healthcare discrimination and bad experiences
In the LGBTQ+ community, it is not uncommon for folks to avoid going to the doctor, whether due to previous bad experiences, fear of coming out or being outed, medical mistrust, or just not sure where to start. In fact, in the Grand Rapids LGBTQ+ Healthcare Consortium’s 2022 survey on LGBTQ+ patient experiences, nearly 57% of respondents stated at least one reason for avoiding healthcare over the last year. In addition, of the 39 respondents who have avoided receiving care due to fear of discrimination from front desk staff/provider and/or general transphobia, 32 (82%) stated experiencing microaggression, discrimination, prejudice, or other stigmatization. So it’s fair to say that the fears and mistrust among the community are well founded and valid. But what do you do if you experience discrimination or have a negative experience while receiving care? Is there anything you can do?
That’s what we’ll be answering in this blog, in honor of LGBT Health Awareness Week, which aims to bring attention to the devastating cycle of discrimination and health disparities that affects the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community (according to the National LGBTQ Task Force). Because LGBT people are regularly discriminated against in employment, relationship recognition and insurance coverage, they are more likely to get sick and less likely to be able to afford vital health care than their straight and non-transgender neighbors. One last note, as a heads up, we do use some legal jargon and site laws in the blog, but will do our best to summarize the main points; we want to ensure that if folks want to do further research or have questions, you have the points of reference for what we’re talking about.
First off: are LGBTQ+ protected under Michigan Law from healthcare and insurance discrimination? Yes, actually: any facility, provider, clinic, agency, or other entity that accepts Medicaid, Medicare, or otherwise receives federal funding cannot deny care or service to someone because of their race, color, national origin, sex, gender identification, sexual orientation, age, or disability. This also goes for private insurers as well, according to a March 2022 bulletin from the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services.
So we’re legally protected from discrimination; what happens if you experience discrimination and need to file a complaint? In Michigan, any hospital that accepts Medicaid/Medicare has to have a patient relations department, and “are to ensure compliance with all relevant Federal and State nondiscrimination provisions,” (MDHHS Medicaid Provider Manual, pg 14).
It can be pretty daunting and draining to seek help after a negative experience, especially when you’re not sure if you’ll be safe making the report. But letting discrimination go unchecked allows the cycle to continue, with the possibility of more medical mistrust and care avoidance in the future. Below is a general list of what you’ll need to submit the complaint, as well as links to 6 community healthcare organizations, 2 Michigan departments, and Legal Aid of West Michigan, should you need to take legal action.
What you’ll need:
The date of the incident
What occurred and by whom
The address of the organization
Trinity Health Patient Relations
Corewell Health Compliments and Complaints
University of Michigan Health West Patient Relations
Catherine’s Health Center Contact Form
MDHHS Bureau of Community and Health Systems
To dive a little deeper into legal protections: while the protections under Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act were (briefly) removed in 2020, they were restored in 2021 by executive order. Policies and laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex include gender identity and sexual orientation in their definition, according to the order. In the MDHHS Medicaid Provider Manual, it states that “an individual shall not be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination on the grounds [of race, color, national origin, sex, gender identification, sexual orientation, age, or disability] under any health program or activity, any part of which is receiving federal financial assistance, or under any program or activity that is administered by an Executive Agency or any entity established under Title I of the Affordable Care Act or its amendments.” In addition, we are protected under the Michigan Public Health Code 333.20201:
(a) A patient or resident shall not be denied appropriate care on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual preference, or source of payment.
It’s fair to say that LGBTQ+ patients are legally protected from discrimination in a healthcare environment in a variety of ways, but we understand that folks still can (and do) experience discrimination, prejudice, and other stigmatization while seeking care. At the end of the day, it’s important to remember that you are entitled to quality, affirming care and should not have to endure discrimination and prejudice in order to take care of yourself and your health. We must empower ourselves to stop others from experiencing discrimination and from it happening all together. It’s okay to feel nervous, apprehensive, or scared about reporting discrimination, that is a perfectly normal reaction. If need be, ask a friend for support; you don’t have to go at it alone.
Note: we are not legal experts or lawyers, this is all general information to help get you started in reporting discrimination and knowing your rights.
Still Important, just not Romantic
Looking beyond Monogamous, Romantic relationships and the importance of Recognizing significant friendships & Other relationship structures - in honor of AroSpec Awareness week
Graphic made by Arly using Canva, AroAce flag made by aroaesflags
Following Valentines’ Day on February 14th, the 19th-25th is Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week, a time to spread awareness and acceptance of aromantic spectrum identities and the issues arospec people face, as well as promoting awareness of the existence of arospec folks and celebrating them. As acceptance for non-cishet identities grows, so should the way we view relationships and support networks, expanding beyond monogamous, romantic relationships and biological families.
In the United States, according to the US Government Accountability Office (GAO), there are 1,138 federal statutory provisions where one’s marital status plays a role in determining benefits, rights, and privileges. Same-sex marriage is now included in these provisions, which is seen as a win for LGBTQ rights all across the US. But as we begin to view the myriad of ways that folks can form significant relationships outside of marriage, we can see how marriage is not the end-all-be-all of LGBTQ rights, especially from a patient rights lens. In this blog, we are going to explore a few ways that folks form relationships outside of marriage and why it is incredibly important for providers, other healthcare workers, and society at large to honor these relationships when it comes to medical decision making and support.
To start off, let’s talk more about aromantic and aro spectrum identities. According to aromanticism.org, the term “aromantic” (aro for short) describes someone who experiences little to no romantic attraction. Aromantic people are not broken, mistaken, or “waiting for the right person” and are still capable of establishing significant relationships outside of romance. For example, someone who is aromantic can also be allosexual, someone who experiences sexual attraction. Therefore, from a healthcare perspective, it would still be important to ask the patient whether they are sexually active, the type of sex they are engaging in, number of partners, contraception used, etc. Being educated on the terms that patients can identify as takes the burden of educating the provider off the patient, which is often tiring and stressful for the patient.
As noted previously, romantic attraction is on a spectrum; the way that someone views their identity and forms relationships can exist anywhere along not just the aro spectrum but also the asexual and aplatonic spectrums. If you’re getting a little overwhelmed here with all the spectrums, that’s okay, but it just shows that relationships can form and be experienced in ways far beyond our traditional understandings! With these expanding understandings of romantic, sexual, and platonic attractions, we can begin to see why holding marriage as the ultimate union doesn’t work for some folks.
Graphic made by Columbiaces
This idea of separate forms of attraction is known as the Split Attraction Model (SAM), which you can learn more about here. For some folks, the SAM doesn’t really work for them, whether they don’t relate to the language, find it too confusing, or just aren’t a fan of it (learn more here). No matter how someone defines their identity or what labels they use, we must trust that they know themselves better than we possibly could, while also acknowledging that labels can change.
For a great number of LGBTQ+ folks, they don’t have a biological family to rely on for support, which is where found/chosen family comes into play. Whether it’s a young queer teen in need of housing or an elderly trans person in need of home care, found family often provides needed support to survive after facing rejection from one’s biological family. This network of found family should be seen as just as valid as a biological family, as it provides the much needed love, care, and support that may not be guaranteed in one’s biological family. However, laws governing medical decision-making are mainly based on biological and marital relationships (part of the 1,138 federal statutory provisions mentioned above), leading to difficult, even complicated, situations for LGBTQ+ patients without advanced healthcare directives or other documents naming their found family to make decisions on their behalf.
I personally use a wide variety of labels to describe my varied places on the attraction spectrums, as well as my gender identity: pan/demisexual, greyromantic, polyamorous, transgender and non-binary. My parents are not involved in my life and my extended family is supportive but religious with differing views than mine on healthcare; my brother just became a legal adult and is navigating that special brand of chaos; I am not in any significant relationships at the moment; my main supports are my found family of older enbies and fellow Gen Z queers. So where does this leave me should I become unable to make medical decisions for myself? This is a question that myself and many other LGBTQ+ folks are left to ponder -and occasionally, are forced to scramble for answers.Our first pick to be our medical advocate may be unable to do so without proper planning and paperwork beforehand; our (disapproving) families may be the ones who come to our side because they are the only ones allowed to, leading to misgendering, deadnaming, and discriminatory care.
Holding marriage as the highest ideal to aspire to excludes the wide breadth of relationships that we can develop. Relying on only biological or legal families excludes the people in our lives that we hold just as near and dear to our hearts. Having significant relationships outside of romance and/or sex are just as valid and important; aromantics can still desire close relationships and be sexually active. Collecting sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) data is not just for data's sake: it is so that providers and healthcare staff can provide culturally appropriate care for their patients and ask relevant questions tailored to each patient’s needs. Medical mistrust and avoidance among the LGBTQ+ community due to discrimination and prejudice (anticipated or past experiences) means that preventable and treatable issues go untreated, leading to poor physical and mental health. Respecting the patient/person, as well as the terms and labels they use to describe themselves is a way to support mental and physical health; by fostering an affirmative, caring, trauma-informed environment, patients can feel comfortable enough to receive the care they need.
If you’d like to learn more about aromantic spectrum and other identities, check out the videos linked throughout the blog.
Cervical Cancer Awareness Month
January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, an opportunity to learn about cervical cancer, early detection, and HPV; the color teal is used to represent cervical cancer awareness. Cervical cancer and other gynecologic cancers are often talked about as a womens’ issue, which excludes transgender men and non-binary people. However, anyone who has a cervix can be at risk for cervical cancer, so it is important to stay up-to-date on screenings and vaccinations, as well as practicing safe sex practices in order to minimize one’s risk for cervical cancer.
According to the CDC, the main cause of cervical cancer is long-lasting infection with certain kinds of HPV, or human papillomavirus (not to be confused with HIV or human immunodeficiency virus). HPV is the most common STD in the US, according to the CDC, with an estimated 42.5 million people estimated to have it in 2018; it is spread by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex as well as close skin-to-skin touching during sex with someone who has HPV. While in most cases, HPV does go away on its own within two years, it can sometimes lead to health problems like genital warts (small bump(s) in the genital area) or cancer. Almost all cervical cancers are caused by HPV, so it is critical to be vaccinated against it as a preventative measure. The HPV vaccine, administered in two doses, is recommended for children ages 11-12 years, though it can be administered as early as 9 years old and as late as 26 years old, so talk with a medical professional about best steps for you/your child.
In addition to the HPV vaccine, screening tests are a vital preventative measure. Dr. Monique Small, CBHA obstetrician/gynecologist, says that “cervical cancer is one of the easiest gynecological cancers to prevent with regular screening tests.” It is recommended that people with cervixes begin getting Pap tests at 21 years old and every 3 years after, then begin HPV tests at 30 years old. A Pap test screens for abnormal, precancerous cells, which can be the first sign of cancer that develops years down the line. An HPV test screens for presence of HPV in cervical cells.
A common misconception is that LGBTQ+ people with cervixes don’t need to be screened for cervical cancer, but that is not the case. Anyone with a cervix should begin screening at 21 years old, no matter their gender identity or sexual orientation. As mentioned previously, screening is a vital part of catching cervical cancer before it grows and can spread to other areas like the vagina, bladder, rectum, or other nearby tissues.
Below are action steps to help lessen your risk for HPV and cervical cancer:
Talk with your healthcare provider about receiving the HPV vaccine
Use condoms, dental dams, and other safe sex practices
Get screened for cervical cancer, starting at age 21
Look out for genital warts, as this can be a sign of infection
If you are in need of an affirming provider to talk to about the HPV vaccine, getting screened for cervical cancer, or general preventative care, check out our provider directory for a list of affirming providers in the area. You can get free condoms and other resources at the Red Project, the Grand Rapids Pride Center, and Milton E. Ford LGBT Resource Center on GVSU’s Allendale Campus. It is important to take care of your health, as well as remember that you are not alone.
An Interview with a Gender Care physician
For LGBTQ+ patients, having to explain your identity or even stay in the closet during an appointment can be extremely draining and even dangerous. Having effective, affirming allies in healthcare is one way to lessen the burden placed on marginalized communities, for both patients and providers alike. But how can one be an ally in the healthcare environment? We asked Dr. Lisa Lowery about what allyship means to her, how she learns from mistakes, and her work at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Gender Care Clinic.
Arly: What does being an ally to the LGBTQ+ community in a healthcare setting look like to you?
Dr. Lowery: For me, being an ally means providing comprehensive gender affirming care while meeting the family and patient where they are.
Arly: What has been valuable to your learning and advocacy as an ally?
Dr. Lowery: I have tried to be more involved in the LGBTQIA+ community and I personally tried to educate myself and have meaningful discussions with like minded individuals.
Arly: How do you avoid performative allyship?
Dr. Lowery: I think you avoid performative allyship by actually doing the work. You work on yourself and work on improving the space you occupy.
Arly: Inevitably, mistakes will happen. How do you move past them?
Dr. Lowery: We all make mistakes; when I make a mistake, I try to readily apologize. I also try to be mindful of the situations when/where I made a mistake in order to make me more mindful of times when I may be more apt to make them.
Arly: Why did you feel it was necessary to start an adolescent gender care clinic?
Dr. Lowery: For several years, we had been coordinating care in the background with endocrine and psychology. We decided that it would be better for the patients and families if we were able to coordinate care in one setting.
Arly: What are issues relating to LGBTQ+ patient care that seem to come up time and time again?
Dr. Lowery: Access to gender affirming care [and] finding providers that are affirming can be challenging for families. Additionally, when parents have decided to not affirm their gender diverse children, this can be a challenging situation in which to ally with the teen to help them navigate. Mental health is always in the forefront of providing affirming care, we are always trying to partner with mental health professionals and this can be challenging especially depending on the family’s resources.
Arly: What is one thing you want other healthcare providers to know about providing health care for this population?
Dr. Lowery: Providing gender affirming care is a part of providing general health care. We know that when patients do not feel affirmed they have higher rates of depression, suicidal ideation, and delay in preventative health care. Do not rely on your patients/families to “teach” you. As a provider, it is important to do some self-education. There are some great resources available.
And she is right: there are a great number of resources available to learn how to be a better ally and to learn about LGBTQ+ identities, specific health issues, and experiences. Visit our Resources page for a variety of links or request a training. Feel free to email us at info.grlgbtqhcc@gmail.com if there is a specific resource you are looking for.
Edited for length and clarity.
Dr. Lisa Lowery, MD, MPH, CPE, FAAP, FSAHM (she/her/hers) is an Adolescent Medicine specialist at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, where she also serves as the Adolescent Medicine Section Chief and Division Chief of HDVCH Pediatrics Specialties. Dr. Lowery is also Assistant Dean for Diversity and Cultural Initiatives at MSU’s College of Human Medicine, is on the Board of Directors for Grand Rapids LGBTQ+ Healthcare Consortium, the Urban League of West Michigan, and Wedgwood Christian Services. She was one of the Grand Rapids Business Journal’s 50 Most Influential Women in 2022 for her drive, passion, and community impact.
GR Resources for Transgender and Non-Binary People
Area Resources for the Transgender and Non-binary Community
Transgender Day of Visibility is dedicated to not just honoring the accomplishments of trans people, but also identify the issues that still need to be addressed and work that needs to be done. Grand Rapids and the surrounding area is home to a lively community of transgender and non-binary folks, but it can sometimes get lonely or isolating, especially during the ongoing pandemic. Below is a list of area resources for transgender and non-binary Grand Rapidians, because we see you.
Grand Rapids Trans Foundation: the GR Trans Foundation works to provide scholarships to transgender and non-binary college students in the area, alleviating the financial burden of upper education. They also provide workshops and mini grants for updating identification documents for transgender and non-binary folks in the Kent County.
Grand Rapids Pride Center: the GR Pride Center offers a variety of services for TGNC folks, with their website acknowledging that “a large piece of our community is represented by transgender and gender non-conforming individuals.” The center services include social support groups (Own Your Gender (OYG) and Trans Youth Group), health navigation assistance through their Proud to Be Healthy program and PTBH Coordinator Leslie Boker, various volunteer advisory committees including the Trans and Gender Non-Conforming (TGNC) Advisory Committee, events for Trans Day of Visibility in March and Trans Day of Remembrance in November, as well as partnering with the GRTF.
Equality MI: while based in Kalamazoo, Equality MI offers victim services from hate crimes and discriminations to domestic & dating violence and police misconduct to LGBTQ+ individuals all across the state. They also provide outreach and educational resources such as PDFs of cities’ non-discrimination ordinances, model employment policies, and city & state statistics.
Transgender Michigan: Rachel Crandall Crocker, LMSW, founded Transgender MI along with her wife Susan Crocker. Crandall Crocker runs the Transgender MI help line, which was the first of its kind in the US; other services include the TransPages and a calendar of trans events throughout the state.
Adolescent Medicine at Spectrum Health: Through their Adolescent Medicine Clinic at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, Spectrum Health offers transgender care services alongside behavioral health, comprehensive preventative care, and other support for young trans people.
Milton E. Ford LGBT Resource Center: the Resource Center, as it is often called on GVSU’s Allendale campus, offers an assortment of resources, trainings, and programs. Weekly programs for trans students include T2:Trans & Non-Binary Student Group, Colors of Pride:LGBTQIA+ Students of Color, and FQA:First Year Queer Alliance, along with others for other LGBTQ+ identities. The Resource Center also helps students navigate chosen name use on campus, Title IX protections, and bias & discrimination incidents.
GIFT: Gays in Faith Together (GIFT) is an organization based on Fulton St in Downtown GR that aims to connect religious LGBTQ+ Grand Rapidians with caring, affirming places of worship and other resources. Their website links to a directory of affirming churches, denominations, and faith traditions, which can be a vital resource for folks with religious trauma but still faith-oriented or are hesitant towards joining a congregation.
AYA Youth Collective: 3:11 Youth Housing and Grand Rapids HQ merged in August 2020, forming “As You Are” or AYA Youth Collective, which acts as a safe resource for youth aged 14-24 facing housing crisis, are unhoused, or in need of basic resources and support. Community partners include the Grand Rapids Red Project, Equality MI, Grand Rapids Pride Center, and Covenant House. Current operating hours are limited (M-F 12pm-5pm) and the drop-in center is by appointment only.
Covenant House: Located south of Downtown off of Franklin and Division, Covenant House is a faith-based, trauma-informed organization that aims to help unhoused, runaway and at-risk youth aged 18-24. Covenant House recognizes that LGBTQ+ youth are at greater risk for being unhoused and aim to be a welcoming, safe place for all youth who come through their doors.
R&R Space at Mel Trotter:Mel Trotter Ministries is currently working to expand their R&R Space, a designated safe shelter for transgender unhoused individuals. Part of their project called Immeasurably More, the R&R space is a rare separate living quarters that allows transgender individuals to be placed in an affirming shelter, rather than immediately sorting based on their sex assigned at birth.*
*if all 8 beds are full, individuals will be assigned to another space based on their sex assigned at birth, not their gender identity.
It’s LGBT Health Awareness Week!
According to Keck Graduate Institute, “LGBT Health Awareness Week is a time to bring attention to the devastating cycle of discrimination and health disparities that affect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people.” Each sexual and gender minority face overlapping health disparaties, along with their own distinct obstacles that combine with other systems of oppression. By highlighting each group’s risks, patients and providers can work together to address potential safe practices and behaviors, helping to better manage the patient’s health.
According to Keck Graduate Institute, “LGBT Health Awareness Week is a time to bring attention to the devastating cycle of discrimination and health disparities that affect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people.” Each sexual and gender minority face overlapping health disparaties, along with their own distinct obstacles that combine with other systems of oppression. By highlighting each group’s risks, patients and providers can work together to address potential safe practices and behaviors, helping to better manage the patient’s health.
Higher risk for:
depression and anxiety due to social alientation, discrimination, rejection from loved ones, abuse, and violence
could be more severe in lesbians still in the closet.
STIs like HPV, bacterial vaginosis, and trichomoniasis.
tobacco use, along with alcohol and drug dependence.
More likely to:
stay silent when in a domestic violence situation due to fear of discrimination or threats from their abuser of being outed
have lack of access to knowledgeable, affirming providers.
Gay
Higher risk for:
STIs like HIV/AIDS, Syphilis, Gonorrhea, Hepatitis A and B, and HPV
depression and anxiety due to stigmatization around male mental health, fear of discrimination
More likely to:
suffer from body image issues and eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia nervosa
possibly due to media portrayal of slender, effeminate gay men
stay silent when in a domestic violence situation due to fear of discrimination, lack of resources and facilities
have lack of access to knowledgeable, affirming providers.
Bisexual
There has been considerably less research done into bisexual identifying people, which plays into their health risks and disparities.
Higher risk of:
mental health issues
lifetime anxiety disorder rates higher than their heterosexual counterparts; bisexual women have higher rates compared to lesbians, whereas bisexual men have similar rates to gay men.
substance use
bisexual women have higher rates compared to lesbians and heterosexual women, bisexual men have higher rates compared to heterosexual men and similar rates to gay men.
minority stress
Bisexual men are less likely to be tested for STIs, despite often being at higher risk compared to gay and heterosexual men.
Bisexual women may be at increased risk for STIs, like herpes, compared to heterosexual and lesbian women.
Transgender
Higher risk of:
minority stress
preventative care avoidance, alongside “lack of gender-related insurance coverage, being refused care, difficulty finding a doctor with expertise in transgender care or fear of discrimination in a health care setting.”
complications related to HRT, especially if taken in high doses and going unmonitored.
reproductive cancers; uterine, cervical, and breast cancer in transgender men, prostate and testicular cancer in trans women, though the risk is low.
alcohol and substance use, such as methamphetamines, ecstasy, and cocaine, which have been linked to higher rates of HIV due to impaired decision making.
depression and anxiety due to minority stress, inadequate social support, discrimination, abuse, and violence.
heart disease due to greater rates of substance use, obesity, and hormone therapy.
37th Bisexual Health Awareness Month
This March marks the 37th annual Bisexual+ Health Awareness Month, a whole month dedicated to raising awareness for the bisexual+ (“+” includes multi-gender attracted identities such as pansexual and polysexual) community’s social, economic, and health disparities, alongside promoting resources and igniting action (bihealthmonth.org). Some may ask why there is an entire month dedicated to bisexual+ health; what separates bisexual+ health from other sexual orientations? Is it that important to focus on bisexual+ health on its own?
This March marks the 37th annual Bisexual+ Health Awareness Month, a whole month dedicated to raising awareness for the bisexual+ (“+” includes multi-gender attracted identities such as pansexual and polysexual) community’s social, economic, and health disparities, alongside promoting resources and igniting action (bihealthmonth.org).
Some may ask why there is an entire month dedicated to bisexual+ health; what separates bisexual+ health from other sexual orientations? Is it that important to focus on bisexual+ health on its own?
The answer to the first question needs us to look at what bisexuality and other nonmonosexual (multi-gender attraction) identities. Bisexuality, according to Dictionary.com, refers to “a person who is sexually or romantically attracted to people of two or more genders.”
It is more than being attracted to men and women, or being ‘half-straight, half-gay’; someone could be attracted to non-binary folks and men and still identify as bisexual. Another common identity under the bi+ umbrella is pansexual, which is defined as people who “are attracted to all kinds of people, regardless of their gender, sex or presentation,” (Farhana Khan via Merriam-Webster).
Among Millennials and Gen Z, people are more likely to identify as bisexual than lesbian or gay, with bisexuals making up the largest sexual minority group (Katz-Wise 2019). However, despite this, there has been significantly less research and funding towards bisexual individuals and addressing biphobic systems of oppression.
This brings us to the answer to our second question: it is important to bisexual+ health separate from gay and lesbian health because they make up a large part of sexual orientation minorities and have received much less research and funding. As is the case with anyone who is part of a social minority, the more minority identities you have, the more likely you are to face oppression, discrimination, and disparities.
Bisexual+ people face unique minority stress experiences, such as facing stereotypes or misconceptions like ‘bisexuality is an excuse to have lots of sex’ or ‘bisexuality is a pit stop to being gay’, among many others.
When seeking medical care, the invisibility of bisexual+ identities and issues may impact the patient’s care. A bisexual cisgender woman who is in a relationship with a woman, but also has sex with men, may not be offered STI testing or birth control due to the provider assuming she is a lesbian.
Another example could include a pansexual non-binary person having to mark gendered responses on forms, resulting misgendering of the patient and/or partners and assumptions of identity; the list can go on. But what can you do, whether you’re a patient, provider, or just wanting to learn more?
Providers can use gender-neutral language on forms and ask more questions about one’s sexual health, while patients can keep an open dialogue with their provider about their identity. Supporters can read things like this blog or articles, videos, and other media made by bisexual+ people about their experiences. This Bisexual+ Health Awareness month, take the opportunity to learn more about the growing visibility of bisexual+ people, their lives, experiences, and disparities.
LGBTQ+ Winter Olympics Athletes
The Winter Olympics have grown to be more inclusive over the years, but continues to hold a much smaller number of out athletes compared to its Summer counterpart. Nevertheless, it’s important to highlight the athletes of Team LGBTQ+ and their amazing achievements. Check out the list of LGBTQ+ athletes competing in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
Team USA
Amber Glenn-figure skating
Glenn is one of the few out bisexual and pansexual athletes in figure skating, and is the only queer woman on the USA figure skating team. She unfortunately tested positive for COVID, so is unable to compete, but stands as an alternate for the team.
Andrew Blaser-skeleton
Blaser has competed in a variety of other sports before taking up Skeleton, from the decathlon to cheerleading and volleyball. He is one of the few openly gay men on Team USA, with the 2022 Olympics marking his first Olympic run.
Brittany Bowe-speed skating
Bowe is set to compete in her 3rd Olympics, and was the first out athlete to earn a spot on Team USA for this year’s Olympics. She recently made headlines after giving up her spot in the 500m to fellow Olympian Erin Jackson after Jackson placed 3rd during the trials due to a slip; Bowe will still compete in the 1000m and 1500m competitions.
Jason Brown-figure skating
The coming 2022 Winter Olympics will be Brown’s first time competing as an openly out gay man, although this is his 3rd Olympics. He became one of the youngest male figure skating Olympic medalists during the 2014 Sochi Olympics. In 2018, he was unable to make it onto Team USA, but worked hard to come back this time around, earning his spot to compete with the team.
Timothy LeDuc-pair figure skating
LeDuc will be the first openly non-binary athlete to compete at a Winter Olympics, marking a huge milestone for trans and non-binary athletes who aspire to compete at the Olympics some day. They will be competing along with their skating partner, Ashley Cain-Gribble, after the pair won 1st at US Nationals in Jan 2022.
Netherlands
Ireen Wüst-speed skating
Wüst made history in 2006 as the youngest Dutch Olympic gold medalist and is now the most decorated LGBTQ+ Olympian ever. The talented bisexual woman will be competing in her 5th Olympics for her home country, hoping to add to her 5 gold, 5 silver, and 1 bronze.
France
Guillaume Cizeron-ice dancing
Cizeron is one of the most decorated ice dancers along with his competition partner, Gabriella Papadakis, with the pair breaking 28 world records. He came out as gay in May 2020 through an Instagram post of him and his boyfriend on International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia.
Kévin Aymoz-figure skating
Aymoz will be competing in his first Olympics, after winning 1st in the 2022 French Championships. He is openly gay and was one of 6 French LGBTQ+ athletes in the TV documentary We Need to Talk, which came out during Pride Month 2021.
Canada
Paul Poirier-ice dancing
Poirier will be representing Canada at the 2022 Olympics with dancing partner Piper Gilles after the pair won bronze in the 2021 World Championships. He will be one of two out gay men competing for Canada.
Eric Radford-pairs figure skating
Radford was the first competitive figure skater to come out during his career, rather than waiting for retirement- an occurrence not limited to just his sport but still a relatively common practice. He was also the first openly gay man to win a gold medal in Winter Olympics in 2018 and will be competing with skating partner Vanessa James.
Great Britain
Bruce Mouat-curling
Mouat currently leads, or “skips” as it’s called in the sport, Britain’s four-man curling team. He also has a highly decorated history representing his homeland of Scotland, and credits his success to coming out as gay.
Australia
Belle Brockoff-snowboarding
Brockoff came out as lesbian in 2013 and was a vocal part of the Olympic protests during the Sochi Olympics of Russian anti-gay laws. She will be competing in 3rd Olympics and her first since tearing her ACL in 2018.
LGBTQ+ 2021 MOVIE LIST!
Ailey, Documentary L(G)BTQ+- Alvin Ailey, who died in 1989, was a legendary pioneer who became the one of the first gay African Americans to start a major dance company. The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Ailey School continue his legacy; this documentary, directed by Jamila Wignot and premiering at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, tells Ailey’s story. (Available on YouTube, Google Play, Apple TV, Amazon Prime, and Vudu)
Benedetta, Historical Drama, Romance (L)GBTQ+- Inspired by a true story and set in 17th-century Italy, this drama from director Paul Verhoeven is about a lesbian Catholic nun named Benedetta Carlini (Virginie Efira), a religious mystic who begins having erotic visions and has an affair with another nun named Bartolomea (Daphne Patakia). (Available on Google Play and Vudu)
Boy Meets Boy, Drama, Romance L(G)BTQ+ - Harry has been partying for 48 hours when he meets Johannes on the dance floor of a club in Berlin. With 15 hours until his flight home, Johannes offers to help him print his boarding pass. This mundane task leads to a day together wandering the city. The contrasts in their lives and values force each one to confront their own truths. Boys Meet Boys is a feature length mumblecore about the journey of a brief encounter: the mark left by a fleeting moment of joy. (Available on YouTube, Google Play, Vudu, Amazon Prime, and Apple TV)
Breaking Fast, Romantic Comedy L(G)BTQ+-In this romantic comedy written and directed by Mike Mosallam, a white American named Kal (Michael Cassidy) and a Lebanese-American named Mo (Haaz Sleiman) fall in love in West Hollywood and learn to adjust to their cultural differences. Their courtship begins during Ramadan, a Muslim tradition of fasting and abstaining from sex for a month. (Available on YouTube, Google Play, Vudu, Apple TV, and Hulu)
Cowboys, Drama LGB(T)Q+- In this Tribeca Film Festival award-winning drama from director Ann Kerrigan, Troy (Steve Zahn) and his trans son Joe (Sasha Knight) hide out in the Montana wilderness together after Troy’s estranged wife Sally (Jillian Bell) refuses to accept Joe’s trans identity. Unlike many films that cast cisgender actors in transgender roles, 10 year old Sasha Knight plays the trans son Joe, marking an important milestone in transgender storytelling. (Available on YouTube, Google Play, Vudu, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and Hulu)
Dragonfly Boy, Dramedy LGBT(Q+)- The film is about transformation and acceptance, made on a $0 budget for a student project. Freshly 21-year-old Graham is fighting over who he is and who he loves. In a world full of opinions and self-hatred, we watch as Graham grows with himself and the amazing people in his life around him. (Available on YouTube)
Eternals, Action L(G)BTQ+- From Marvel Studios, the Eternals, a race of immortal beings with superhuman powers who have secretly lived on Earth for thousands of years, reunite to battle the evil Deviants. (Available in theaters, will soon be on Disney+)
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie Musical Drama, L(G)BT(Q+)- What’s a gay teenage boy to do when he wants to be a drag queen? This cinematic version of the hit British stage musical of the same name tells the story of Jamie New (Max Harwood), who gets pushback for wanting to express his fabulousness at his school’s prom and in everyday life. (Available on Amazon Prime)
Haymaker Action Drama LGB(T)Q+- After being threatened by a thug, a seductive transgender entertainer named Nomi (Nomi Ruiz) is rescued by a retired Muay Thai fighter named Nick (Nick Sasso, who also directed this action drama). The two go on the run together and become close. (Available on Amazon Prime)
I Carry You With Me (Te Llevo Conmigo) Drama L(G)BTQ+-Based on a true story, this drama follows two Mexican lovers — Iván (Armando Espitia) and Gerardo (Christian Vázquez) — whose decades-long romance is tested when one of them moves to New York City to pursue his dream of becoming a chef. (Available on Amazon Prime, YouTube, Apple TV, Vudu, and Starz on 1/5)
The Land of Owls Drama (LG)BTQ+- A pair of Brooklyn couples work through their relationship issues at an upstate retreat. In the isolation of the Catskill Mountains, the retreat leader pushes the couples through a weekend of exercises that force them out of their comfort zones. Removed from the routine distractions of city life and engaging in honest communication for the first time, they have a chance to save their relationships – or to leave them behind. (Available on Apple TV and Amazon Prime)
Ma Belle, My Beauty Drama LGBT(Q+)- Bertie (Idella Johnson) and Lane (Hannah Pepper-Cunningham) were lovers in a polyamorous relationship with Fred (Lucien Guignard) until Lane “ghosted” the other two. Bertie and Fred are now married to each other, and Lane shows up for a surprise reunion in southern France. (Available on Google Play, Vudu, Apple TV, Amazon Prime, and YouTube)
The Man with The Answers Drama L(G)BTQ+- A former Greek diving champion and an eccentric German student take an adventurous road-trip of rediscovery from Bari to Bavaria. A picture-postcard travelogue about the familial ties that bind, the boys that catch our eye, and the twists and turns that lead us home. (Available on Amazon Prime)
Maschile singolare, Drama LGBT(Q+)- This movie explores the modern relationship problem of a young queer guy Antonio. He is a 30-year-old family man, whose life takes an unexpected turn after he suddenly broke up with his husband. (Available on Amazon Prime)
My Name is Pauli Murray Documentary LGBT(Q)+- Oscar-nominated RBG directors Julie Cohen and Betsy West helmed this documentary about queer activist Anna Pauline “Pauli” Murray, who died in 1985. Murray had the unusual distinction of being a lawyer, an Episcopal priest, and a feminist. (Available on Amazon Prime)
No Ordinary Man Documentary LGB(T)Q+- The story of transgender jazz musician Billy Tipton, who passed away in 1989, comes to life this documentary from directors Aisling Chin-Yee and Chase Joynt. (Available on YouTube, Google Play, Vudu, and Apple TV)
Operation Hyacinth Historical Drama L(G)BT(Q+)- Not satisfied with the result of a murder investigation in Warsaw's gay community, an officer in 1980s communist Poland resolves to uncover the truth. (Available on Netflix)
Pray Away Documentary (LGBTQ+)- a comprehensive review of conversion therapy and religious discrimination of LGBTQ+ people in the US. (Available on Netflix)
Single All The Way Dramedy L(G)BTQ+- Desperate to avoid his family's judgment about his perpetual single status, Peter convinces his best friend Nick to join him for the holidays and pretend that they're now in a relationship. (Available on Netflix)
The Sound of Identity Documentary LGB(T)Q+- Lucia Lucas, the first openly transgender female baritone to perform a principal role in an opera on an American stage, gets the spotlight in this Shout! Studios documentary directed by James Kicklighter. (Available on Starz, Philo, YouTube, Google Play, Vudu, Apple TV, and Hulu)
Supernova Drama L(G)BTQ+- long-time partners Tusker and Sam go on a road trip across England after Tusker is diagnosed with early onset dementia. (Available on YouTube, Google Play, Amazon Prime, Vudu, Apple TV, and Hulu)
Two of Us Drama (L)GBTQ+- This French-language dramedy is France’s official 2021 Academy Awards selection for Best International Feature Film. The movie is a love story between two closeted senior citizens and neighbors — Nina (Barbara Sukowa) and Madeleine (Martine Chevallier) — whose long-term relationship is disrupted when an unexpected event threatens to tear them apart. It’s the feature-film directorial debut from Filippo Meneghetti. (Available on Hulu, YouTube, Google Play, Vudu, Amazon Prime, and Apple TV)
The World To Come Historical Drama (L)GBTQ+ - In 1850s Schoharie County, New York, two farmers’ wives — Abigail (Katherine Waterston) and Tallie (Vanessa Kirby) — have a romance with each other while unhappily married to their husbands. (Available on YouTube, Google Play, Amazon Prime, Vudu, Apple TV, and Hulu).
The Pink Triangle.
The Holocaust is by far one of the worst instances of race superiority, ethnic cleansing, and genocide in the last 100 years. In addition to the 6 million Jews targeted and killed, the Nazis also targeted the then-occupied residents of Poland, Romani people*, Soviet prisoners of war (POW), Jehovah’s Witnesses, Czechs, Byelorussians (Belarusians), French, Russians, Yugoslavians, Ukranians, even Germans and other nationalities, as well as homosexuals, sex workers and other social “undesireables”. The Nazis had a badge coding system in order to signify what group(s) an individual was a part of; an example would be a yellow triangle under a red triangle signifying a Jewish political prisoner.
The now well-known symbol of pride pink triangle was used to mark homosexual men -or those identified as such, like bisexual men and transgender women- as well as sex offenders, pedophiles, and zoophiles. The black triangle was used to mark “asocial” and work-shy individuals: Romani people, mentally ill or disabled individuals, alcoholics, drug addicts, beggars, draft resisters, prostitutes, and lesbians. Homosexuality, or “unnatural indecency/intercourse-like act”, was made illegal in Germany in 1871 but was not enforced until the Nazis took power in 1933.
According to Time and historian Robert Beachy, the law actually encouraged scientific study of sexual preferences and pushed for more scientific understanding of human sexuality. Once the Nazis began to enforce the law, gay bars were shut down, books on sexuality were burned, and Ernst Röhm was murdered for trying to overthrow Hitler and his homosexuality. Survivor Pierre Seel states that in the camps “there was no solidarity for the homosexual prisoners; they belonged to the lowest caste.” After the war ended, when camps were liberated, East and West Germany enforced the homosexuality ban, with many remaining incarcerated until the 1970s and the law not being officially repealed until 1994.
Even as the Allied powers began to remove Nazi policies and their impact, the law on homosexuality was left alone. However, as gay and lesbian liberation movements began to grow in the West, the oppressive history of gays and lesbians during the war began to come to light.
TIME Magazine made the first reference to the pink triangle as a pride symbol in June 1977, when talking about a protest in Miami-Dade County on the repeal of local anti-discrimination protections in housing, employment, and public accomodations. The writer of the TIME article spoke of protesters on both sides, sharing the lengths conservative, religious repeal supporters would go to; Anita Bryant stressed how “homosexuality…was against God’s law.”
The gay protesters against the repeal were said by the writer to “also overdramatize their case,” sharing how they wore pink triangles “reminiscent of the yellow star that Jews were forced to wear in Hitler’s Germany. This tactic backfired badly.” In an updated 2018 article on the history of the triangle, TIME shared a note from a reader of the 1977 article, saying how the triangle was not reminiscent, but analogous, “as both the star and the triangle were real artifacts of that time,” with the reader adding “Gay people wear the pink triangle today as a reminder of the past and a pledge that history will not repeat itself.”
As the AIDS epidemic ramped up in the 80s, activists from AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (ACT-UP) used the pink triangle as their symbol to raise awareness of the public health crisis. Avram Finklestein designed the triangle, which was upright instead of upside down, after William F. Buckley wrote in a 1986 New York Times op-ed that HIV/AIDS patients should get tattooed to warn partners. The triangle was made a more vibrant fuschia rather than pale pink, along with the “Silence=Death” motto.
The pink triangle came back into the spotlight in 2017 due to reports of gay men being prosecuted in Chechnya, with protesters scattering pink triangles reading “stop the death camps” outside of the Russian Embassy in London in April 2017. The pink triangle can still be seen in pride parades, on social media, and businesses. May we remember those who came before us and paved the way for where we are today.
*The term “Romani” is used to describe an ethnic group originating from the Rajasthan, Haryana, and Punjab regions of modern-day India. They are known as nomadic travelers. The only accepted terms to refer to the Romani people, as decided by the World Romani Congress in 1971, are Romani or Roma. The term “g*psy” is not used by the Romani people due to its history as an ethnic slur and connotations of othering and illegality.
Additional Links / References:
History of the pink triangle:
https://www.history.com/news/pink-triangle-nazi-concentration-camps
https://time.com/5295476/gay-pride-pink-triangle-history/
https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/the-men-with-the-pink-triangle-heinz-heger
https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/lesbians-under-the-nazi-regime
Help is one call away!
The holidays can be a bittersweet time. While for some it can be a time of rejoicing, connecting, and enjoying the “most wonderful time of the year”, for others it is a time of loneliness, painful memories and triggers. But we are here to say that you are not alone, there are resources for you depending on what support you are in need of. There are people out there who will not only listen, but can help lift you up as well. The holidays do not need to be isolating; your trauma and how you respond to it is valid, you are not alone, don’t let it isolate you. Some tips from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration include asking “What helps and what hurts?”, assessing your stress responses to triggers, and making a plan of how you will protect yourself emotionally, mentally, and physically this holiday season. Below are some hotlines with different focuses to help you stay safe and secure, and connect you with resources.
HOTLINES
Disaster Distress Helpline: Call or Text 1-800-985-5990
SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Helpline provides 24/7, 365-day-a-year crisis counseling and support to people experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters.
Fenway Health: (888).340.4528 for adults 25+, (800).399.PEER for under age 25.
An LGBT Helpline and a Peer Listening Line from Fenway Help, which people can call from across the country.
The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender National Hotline: (888) 843-4564
Anonymous and confidential hotline where callers can speak on many different issues and concerns including coming out issues, gender and/or sexuality identities, relationship concerns, bullying, workplace issues, HIV/AIDS anxiety, safer sex information, suicide, and much more.
The GLBT National Youth Talkline (youth serving youth through age 25): (800) 246-7743
Both provide telephone, online private one-to-one chat and email peer-support, as well as factual information and local resources for cities and towns across the United States.
Rape Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN): (800) 656-HOPE / (800) 810-7440 (TTY)
The nation's largest organization fighting sexual violence, RAINN also carries out programs to prevent sexual violence, help victims and ensure that rapists are brought to justice.
StrongHearts Native Helpline: 1-844-7NATIVE (1-844-762-8483)
StrongHearts is a culturally-appropriate, anonymous, confidential service dedicated to serving Native American survivors of domestic violence and concerned family members and friends.
Trans Lifeline: (877) 565-8860
Trans Lifeline is a trans-led organization that connects trans people to the community, support, and resources they need to survive and thrive.
The Trevor Project: (866) 488-7386
The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) young people ages 13-24.
The True Colors United: (212) 461-4401
The True Colors Fund is working to end homelessness among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning youth, creating a world in which all young people can be their true selves. True Colors United runs a database of service providers.
U.S. National Domestic Violence Hotline: (800) 799-7233 (English/Spanish) (800) 787-3224 (TTY)
They also have an online chat feature available. Operating around the clock, seven days a week, confidential and free of cost, the National Domestic Violence Hotline provides lifesaving tools and immediate support to enable victims to find safety and live lives free of abuse. Highly trained, experienced advocates offer compassionate support, crisis intervention information and referral services in over 170 languages.
Day Zero.
I would venture to say you have no idea how your actions and words have infiltrated and impacted my life . How your hatred continues to deliver slight yet direct blows with an attempt to utterly destroy me. How your infectious plague has trickled down to sabotage every aspect of who I am, who I am yet to be and those lives which are directly and indirectly trussed to mine.
You- homophobia are a disease. You infiltrate the minds of individuals and symptomatically cloud their view so their eyes can’t see humans as they are despite all other attributes but solely on the grounds of who they love. You take the lives of hundreds of thousands of people every year. Congratulations - You are an epidemic. You destroy families. You create homelessness and increase desperation leading to suicide after suicide after suicide and oh homicide. The greatest symptom of your debilitating affect is hate which grows unrestrained to convince one to murder another of our own kind merely for the minute factor that they love differently than you.
Like the most aggressive form of cancer you are the cells that multiply out of control in the minds of so many. Although I don’t know that there will ever be a cure for you, I know that my speaking out brings light into your terrifying darkness and a sword that will pierce hearts and open minds. The reality is my speaking is all but a mere effort to save my own life because It’s time, I’ve had enough.
I’ve been lead to believe you’ve stolen my dignity and self respect. My integrity and professionalism, tenacity and ability to share with the world something good are tainted and greatly discolored by your rampant blows. It has all been shattered by your darkness. You have crippled me and pushed me in to hiding. I’ve become a person who’s disability forces them to not leave the safety of my 4 bedroom walls. My anxiety and depression and post traumatic stress disorder, created by the assault you’ve had on my life holds me hostage in my car in moments when I’m supposed to be serving my patients and families. It holds me in the aisle at the grocery store because I know there’s someone infected with you on the other side who previously audibly accosted me in public.
My joy has been diminished, my reflection in the mirror resembles a weak and weary soul who is desperate for freedom of oppression. Perhaps it’s because you have taken from me literally everything and anything that I possess of any worth. Through it all I am forced to realize what I have left. Most of which is forever unrecoverable. The patient experiences, the longevity necessary to build my career, the relentless attempts to leap forward and build again a life with hopes of building a meaningful legacy.
It’s 2020, times have changed and our society is vastly attempting to eradicate you. Yes I am aware, “we have come so far!,” and I have heard countless comments about, “marriage is legal, you have your rights, what more do you need?,” etc. I’m not convinced, I continue to survive your attacks and others need to abolish the blinders from their eyes and then encourage others to do the same so as to understand and trust that just as sexism, ageism, and racism to name a few are still globally viral, you homophobia and your horrific affects thereof continue to kill and destroy many. How you might ask?
Lets start with the time that you violently through the judge and our legal system took my children away from me for three months because you were convinced that my being gay must be a mental illness or life crisis. The moment when I learned they were told I abandoned them and didn’t want them anymore because my sin was more important and my desire was to sleep with a woman. When you diminished Who I am as a person, a mother down to only my sexual orientation.
That time that you walked into the trauma bay and recognized me from church and your loved one was barren on the table and I actively performing CPR on them. I was literally the heart beating for him, I alone was circulating life through his lifeless body. You refused to see me at all, only my sexual orientation. Although I, one of the most trained trauma nurses in that room you began to scream in front of my peers for me to be removed from him and told me to step away and surrender my position and life saving efforts to a nurse who graduated just weeks prior with no experience.
How about the time you took me in to your office and with cowardliness hid behind vague words and use of irrelevant rationales to inform me that my being a lesbian did not fit the culture of your practice, your values and beliefs system and therefore I was no longer welcomed to work next to you. Interesting though the day prior, before you heard the news that I was married to a woman, you told me that I was one of the best nurses you’d hired with the most beautiful bedside manner you’d witnessed in years.
Or the latest attempted terminal blow when you suddenly ripped me from the bedside of the the most frail of patients, the dying. Tragically eradicating and severing ties between myself as a hospice nurse from several patients and their grieving weary loved ones without an opportunity for closure. You severed a bond and forced me to abandon my patients. THEY WERE DYING and suddenly all the times I’ve cried with them, prayed with them, sang to and with them, bathed them and dressed them, listened to their greatest joys, deepest desires and fears have become tainted by your dark hostility.
Your a coward and quietly ashamed of your bias and You’ve covered yourself with deception claiming my nursing skills or abilities or boundaries were lacking or flawed thus directly deepening your diseased affects on my self view. It became apparent that at any moment anything can be taken from me NOT because of my sexual orientation but due to your hate.
Time and time again I’ve experienced this but now it has spread through me and into the lives of others. You’ve raped me and have USED ME to spread your vile disease resulting in heightened doubt and fear. I have questioned to my very core who I am and who I once was down to my professional being. I’ve become desperately symptomatic of fear and one surviving your hold and retreat deeper into my self because I CANNOT allow myself to continue the vulnerability. I refrain to connecting with anyone because I must prevent bringing additional pain and suffering, undue harm especially to my patients who have invited me in to journey with them through one of the most intimate times of their lives, dying. I’ve come to believe your lies that I had no business being there or being a part of this ministry, this profession any more.
I will admit you have crippled me in so many ways. I am coming to understand why I suffer immensely at times with depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation. Why I’m living with post Traumatic stress disorder. I’ve bought in. I now see what others see when they look at me. I believed your projection of who I am is in fact who I am. I have allowed you’re sick and disgusting view of me to shape me into this disabled body because I’m unable to get outside of my mind and the fear of facing another human who embodies you restrains me inside my own living hell. I am shattered and broken but make no mistake, I am still alive.
Let me explain something to you. At the end of the day you can’t change my DNA. I’m not sure you heard or understood what I said, your efforts have failed because YOU CANNOT change my DNA. You see my DNA and who I am is not in anyway just that I am a woman, an Italian, a lesbian. Its not merely that I have green eyes and sun-kissed skin tones. My very DNA structured my dignity. It carries my tenacity, my vulnerability, my personality which in case you missed the memo can outshine even the darkest of nights. My life experiences have groomed me into a survivor, a fierce survivor. I will take every single integral microscopic cell that embodies who I am and with all that I am that is woven into my very DNA And I will defeat you. I will grow stronger and brighter and I will be in this world what I am called to be because no matter how much you hate me and no matter how much you think you can destroy my life you can’t have it because it doesn’t belong to you!
You see I’m educated. I know how this works and I’ve seen life and death. I have experienced life and death. I am one of the best nurses you will ever meet and when given the chance I will show you a love and compassion that you quite possibly have never experienced before. What’s more is that I’ve held the hand of more than one individual who’s attempted to take or did take their life because the darkness was too heavy and the light although you could not completely diminish it was no longer enough. I refuse to fall victim to this.
Homophobia - like cancer when all other treatments have been exhausted and they are no longer responding appropriately we take the frail human body down to the cellular level to the brink of death. You’ve already done this for me. At that point stem cells are planted and those particles of DNA that are woven in us from the moment of conception take hold of them and start to grow something new. Cells that were already created and a part of my DNA and you have no control or power over. Today is my stem cell transplant, it’s Day ZERO, and I will make every single effort to allow every particle of me to become who I am first and foremost above and around you regardless of your desire to put me in the grave.
So I want it back. I am taking my life back. Not the life that I am surviving right now but the one I was created to thrive in. The one where I am out in the community and serving and loving and showing Christ - like compassion and forgiveness and so much more. Yes you heard me right I am a lesbian who loves Jesus and I know that you homophobia would like the world to believe that this is a counter diction but it’s not. And you no longer have a place in my life and how I move forward living it. I will walk with my head high and no longer feel like I am a disgusting person or somehow a disgrace on this earth because of who I chose to marry and love.
Homophobia like one of the most infectious diseases known on earth is rampant and it’s time that we start exterminating it for the sake of all especially those who we love. I’m going to promise you this no one was born with a genetic condition of hatred. Its time we start vaccinating against it and raising up our children to love and embrace our fellow human beings despite their differences, despite their sexual orientation.
Nevertheless, it’s in my DNA to tell you that I’m going to chose to love you, to forgive you and to have a greater hope for change in your hearts, your minds and your actions. If for nothing more but because my soul deserves peace.
Today is my Day Zero.
Relentlessly Yours,
Mrs. Tennille Marie Dobbs