Oof. I was also a queer teen in the 90s who turned to the half-shelf of LGBT books at my public library and found a lifeline. (An incredibly confusing and imperfect lifeline but I was lucky to have even that.)
I have so much fear and grief coming up over the teen I was and teens facing this hateful backlash today. I alternate between hope and despair. Hope because I and the others who lived through those times and are here and fiercely protective of our queer kin. Despair because the hate is so organized and powerful. Hope because queer teens have more today in terms of resources, representation and straight allies than it feels like I did. Despair because the hate trying to wipe all that out.
May we all take what we learned and use it to stand up.
Oh, Saeed. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us this morning. Like Nicole, I veer between hope and despair, and for the same reasons. I lean more towards hope because teens in the community are passionately organized and committed to speaking out. I have to believe that has an impact. Sending you love and gratitude.
I feel you on this. I often think about the ways that I shrank myself and held back from seeking regular teenage experiences because I didn’t feel supported to live openly as a queer person. I hate that kids and teens today are at risk of being put back in that limited space.
Oof. I was also a queer teen in the 90s who turned to the half-shelf of LGBT books at my public library and found a lifeline. (An incredibly confusing and imperfect lifeline but I was lucky to have even that.)
I have so much fear and grief coming up over the teen I was and teens facing this hateful backlash today. I alternate between hope and despair. Hope because I and the others who lived through those times and are here and fiercely protective of our queer kin. Despair because the hate is so organized and powerful. Hope because queer teens have more today in terms of resources, representation and straight allies than it feels like I did. Despair because the hate trying to wipe all that out.
May we all take what we learned and use it to stand up.
Oh, Saeed. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us this morning. Like Nicole, I veer between hope and despair, and for the same reasons. I lean more towards hope because teens in the community are passionately organized and committed to speaking out. I have to believe that has an impact. Sending you love and gratitude.
They will never be satisfied. There will always be someone next. - just hearing you say it really hit me this morning. xo
I feel you on this. I often think about the ways that I shrank myself and held back from seeking regular teenage experiences because I didn’t feel supported to live openly as a queer person. I hate that kids and teens today are at risk of being put back in that limited space.