Wednesday 11-10-2023 - 16:51

For many people, the process of coming out as LGBTQ+ can be tremendously difficult. Extreme emotional distress might result from the dread of being rejected, discriminated against, or facing prejudice. Understanding the significance of LGBTQ+ community members' stories being shared is essential. We not only increase awareness by having people talk about their experiences, hardships, and victories, but we also provide encouragement and support to those who might still be in the closet. These students’ stories promote understanding, help dispel misconceptions, and help build a more accepting society where people can enjoy who they truly are without worrying about being judged. 

 

Anonymous Story 

It took me a few years to properly come out to not just people around me, but myself. Around a year after discovering myself, I began to tell my closest friends I was trans. I received nothing but love and acceptance and have since formed a wonderfully diverse group of fellow trans friends and supporters. I couldn't be any happier with the people around me! 

It wasn't a happy story all the time, as for when telling some people, it did take quite a while and a couple of coming out attempts for them to warm up to the idea and fully accept it, but overtime, and from educating them, it changed their opinion and things improved.  Those occurrences were rather discouraging, proving to have quite a negative effect on my mental health, but changes and transitions will never be linear, and it also won't always be happy, but I still never regretted my choice to tell others.  And since doing so and making that change, a lot of things have changed for good, as I've been able to express my identity and really be me. It's had a huge positive effect on my mental health, especially while attending this university as classmates, tutors and others are so incredibly validating and supportive of all identities. 

No matter what, there will always be people around you to support you. 

 

Maja's Story

Aromanticism & Asexuality  

Aroace people are rarely mentioned in media or society in general, which means that only a few people know or understand what it is when I tell them. The majority who do know are most often online users that are familiar with that part of the community, yet sometimes still ask questions about my feelings and experience. How do I tell someone that I just don't feel… anything? 

And it's not that I'm completely emotionless, I have a vast range of emotions that I experience everyday - I've just never felt those types of feelings before and maybe I never will. But, it doesn't mean that I'm broken; even though I have had those recurring thoughts for many of my adolescent years before I found out what I was actually experiencing. That's why I kept it to myself for so many years because I thought no one would understand. I'm generally quite a reserved person so I believed telling people would make them assume I was crazy or making this sexuality up, when I wasn't.  

I didn't tell my parents until this year. It was more on a whim because I was frustrated by all the poking and prodding of questions like if I have a boyfriend or if I'm going out somewhere, is it with someone of romantic interest? I hated when they commented on it because it alluded to me feeling uncomfortable with sharing anything personal with them.  

But to my surprise, even after copious amounts of debates I had with them around the topic of the LGBTQIA+ Community, they actually knew what it was. It wasn't a huge moment like in TV & Film but despite that, I felt relief. 

 

LGBT Resources and Helplines

LGBT National Help Center:

Helpline: 1-888-843-4564

 

National LGBTQ+ Task Force

 

Trans Lifeline:

Helpline: 1-877-565-8860

 

Shout 85258

 

National Center for Transgender Equality

 

This blog was submitted by Sasha Feeney (LGBTQ+ Voluntary Officer), Maja, and another Edge Hill student.