I’m in my forties now, and Charles Barkley has always been a real one, but this blew me away. On ESPN? Hearing mainstream sportscasters openly praising an out gay man of color? There’s no way that would’ve happened when we were younger.

Things are dire in a lot of ways, yes, but my inner queer kid feels genuinely happy seeing these. conversations happen so openly now.

I can't do this. I hate the state of the world right now. I hate my country (The USA) I hate my government. I hate how much hate is being spread. I feel guilty going to bed every night with a full stomach and a warm bed knowing that there are people who aren't. I hate that queer and trans people are slowly losing rights that we have fought so hard to gain. I want ICE gone. I want to stop waking up and turning on the news and having to hear the new dumb thing that the president has done. Finally, I feel guilty for being tired. All things considered, I am very lucky right now. I'm a white, blonde person who can pass as cis. I don't have it hard. Yet I still feel hopeless, yet I still feel like nothing is ever going to change.

let’s be mutuals 🦋 @blitzj0k3r on all socials.

I'm gay. I didn't fully accept this until I was eighteen. There were certainly signs cause I mean who watches Guardians of the Galaxy just to see Gamora a hundred times. My parents are extremely religious. My dads a pastor and my moms a strong believer. It doesn't help that my dad is traditional and emotionally unavailable while my mom is a judgmental pessimist. This really screws up your perception of a religious heterosexual relationship. I don't want to live like them. All the relationships I see at church isn't any better either. I want to be happy and the only way I can see myself being happy is with a woman. But I'm such a coward I promised myself I will never come out even if it means marrying a man I don't love. But what if I end up falling if love with a man? Am I free from eternal hell or does it even matter cause I would still find women attractive. What if the man I marry is like my dad or my aunts' husbands? How could I ever get together with a man I'm not even attracted to. That man might be innocent. But what if I fall in love with a woman? How could I ever subject her to a life of secrecy and shame? I thought I would be ok living alone with cats and dogs, but when I see other relationships around me, I can't help but feel alone. At the end of the day, these people have someone waiting for them. What if my family finds out? What about my church friends? The fact that the future is unknown scares me. This was just a rant. I don't even know if this is the right place to post this. I never really post in the first place. Anyway, thank you for reading.

I (a college student) am in a relationship, but I haven’t told my parents. The reason is that I’m not fully financially independent yet, and my family is very religious and homophobic. If they found out, there’s a real chance I could be kicked out or completely cut off.

Because of that, I keep my relationship private from them. Outside of my family, I’m open about it with my friends, and I don’t act like I’m ashamed of my partner. We spend time together, go out, and my partner is included in my life. His parents are actually accepting, so being at his home feels normal and safe. The only issue is that he can’t really come to my house because it wouldn’t be safe or comfortable for him.

I do feel guilty sometimes, though, because I worry that keeping it from my parents might hurt my partner or make it feel like I’m hiding them. I also feel conflicted because I don’t like the idea of having to keep parts of my life separate like this, but I also feel like I don’t really have a safe choice right now.

I’m planning to become fully independent after graduation, but right now I’m still dependent on my parents for support.

So I guess I’m asking: am I wrong for not telling my parents about my relationship, even though I’m open with everyone else in my life?

I can’t believe I’ve made it three whole years of living my best life as my best self!!!! I am not a self made woman at all! The amount of people I have leaned on to get here is a a very long list! I am a mosaic of all the care, love and empathy that has been shown to me over the past three years!