Thanksgiving is a special time when we can reflect on what we are thankful for and spend time with our loved ones over a delicious meal. However, it can be challenging when some families aren't as accepting or supportive of LGBTQIA+ identities. Suppose your family tends to make offensive "jokes" or is outright hateful or ignorant with their comments. In that case, it can make the holiday less enjoyable.
As a queer person, we all have the experience of coming out to our friends and family. It's a unique and terrifying journey we all face at some point. Being the friend or family member of someone in the LGBTQIA+ community means you have a special role that holds a lot of power to that person. If someone you love has come out to you recently, they must trust you and wish to be accepted for who they are. It can be a learning curve- unlearning what you have been told about the LGBTQ+ community to better understand your loved one's identity. Our society tells us so many false narratives about the LGBTQIA+ community. Still, if you are here, you are willing to expand what you've known and are eager to challenge some of these false narratives.
Thanksgiving is supposed to be a time for gratitude and connection. Still, for those contemplating coming out as an LGBTQIA+ person to their family, it can be a mix of excitement, terror, and dread. In this blog post, we'll explore five helpful tips to help you in this scary but rewarding process. I seriously wish I had the internet when I came out because, boy, did I do it so wrong! But guess what- I still don't regret ripping off the Band-Aid and stepping into my true, authentic self as a bisexual person. 1. Gratitude and Honesty:
When we’re school aged, it’s easy to make friends. But as adults, women can sometimes feel on-guard around other women, especially in the workplace, and friendships can be harder to foster. Not only does this lack of friendship make going to work each day feel more challenging, but studies have found friendships, or a lack of friendships, has a big impact on our overall health and well-being.