The child who was complete and the adult who has learned to shrink are two different versions of each queer person. There is a community here to help you get back to that younger you who laughed out loud, dressed however you pleased, and showed joy without fear. How would you present yourself in the world if there were no such things as shame, fear, and judgment? The answer you give could be the key to your healing.

As children, some of us had to deal with religious abuse from our families, including feelings of guilt, shame, manipulation, and threats. However, I want to be clear: the trauma you experienced does not have the power to determine the rest of your life. Keep your faith in God if it makes you feel at ease. What is crucial is that you combine faith with humanity, self-respect, compassion, and critical thinking. You deserve a spirituality that doesn't punish you for being alive. Your happiness, your truth, and your life matter. You are not a mistake; you are a complete and powerful person. Your support in this movement for freedom, representation, visibility, and truth is greatly appreciated. Charles

In African cultures, gay men aren't usually allowed to be soft.To stay alive, we are told to be tough, hide our feelings, "man up," and make every soft part of ourselves smaller. When you choose peace over acting, rest over working too much, and honesty over performance, you break rules that we are never meant to follow. What kind of softness did you have to hide the most, and how would it feel to get it back? Share below: Someone needs to see how brave you are.

Everyone who is queer has that one moment that changed everything. It might not have been loud or dramatic. That's when you said, "I deserve more than fear, I deserve more than survival, I deserve to be myself." For some, it was severing relationships with a toxic family; for others, it was purchasing an outfit that at last felt like you; or perhaps it was the first time you said, even in a quiet voice, "I'm queer, and that's not a mistake." By choosing to be yourself, you are rebelling, healing, and breaking down barriers of shame that have been passed down from generation to generation. We honour those times in this community, even if they are small, quiet, messy, or life-changing. We would like to know about your experiences: When did you first pick yourself over expectations, judgment, or fear?It could be a word, a story, or just a feeling. Share it below.Your story could be just what someone else needs to hear today.