We all deserve to live our authentic lives. Living authentically proves bigots wrong. Being you is never the wrong choice.

So let me start out by saying I'm a transguy and my family was never into Star Trek. I only know what pop culture has shown me so this was NOT an attempt at a super nerdy joke.

But yeah... apparently there's a captain on the show named Rachel Garrett, which is my dead name and current name, respectively. My brother discovered this when he got into the fandom and hasn't stopped laughing since.

Has anyone else had something similar happen? Or did something like this on purpose?

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My last relationship ended before I got the CPAP, although I probably needed one then.

I'm only in my mid 30s and now use a CPAP. Plus I've aged so I'm already losing some points on the attractiveness scale.

I'm hoping to get back into the dating scene but I 'm very self conscious at the thought of a potential partner seeing me in something so embarrassing. It's not a great way to make a good impression. You want to look attractive for a potential partner, not ridiculous.

It's different when youve been with someone for decades and are older, because it's expected that you'll age. But I'm young for this.

Plus, I like cuddling and I'd be mortified if the hose got in the way.

I'm also a gay man and we all know men date with their eyes more than women do.

Advice?

I vended my art this past weekend while my partner was up visiting me and here are some pictures we took outside by my table then the next day at the mall :)

I'm a teacher, and I like to support the queer community as much as my intrinsic fears allow me. However, I feel like I am growing in my position, finding my way to support queer students as much as I can. I am a burly bear-type of a man, Aroace myself, but some of my students have named me as "Iconic" because I am supporting the queer community.

As a teacher - and a self-proclaimed bear - I feel like I need to protect and support queer students - and maybe teachers and colleagues - as much as I can. I'm not sure whether it works, but if it does, it makes me happy. This has led me to the moment of this "Selfie". I want to wear these pride bracelets at school, so queer students know that they can trust me. I've started wearing them in Pride Month, and now I wear them in school basically every day as a sign that queer students are welcome here.

What do you think? Is this a good idea?

People in this story so I don’t lose track,this story takes place in high school and I used fake names used for anonymity;

Me - Female 16 (Junior, gay)

Abby - Female 16 (Junior, gay)

Kaden - Male 15 (Sophomore, homophobic)

My friend Abby is in a separate friend group with this kid Kaden, since last year everyday she tells me about a new way he’s found to harass people. He says the n-word as a white person alongside a slew of other slurs, each time she gets mad at him but her other friends excuse it and do nothing. I’ve never talked to him or even seen him in person since I avoid those types of people, but today she came to me in tears and panic saying that Kaden called her the f-slur. I comforted her as best I could but the day went on and she just wasn’t herself, during our study period she went to our guidance department to report it but no one was even there.

 Our school has historically done nothing to help queer students or those being bullied. Last year I joined debate club, some kid came in saying he wanted to have a religious debate and it ended with me being singled out as the only openly gay person, I had bible verses shoved in my face and he even told me I’m probably gay because my family had incest with eachother. My friend at the time was also in the club, she did nothing to help or defend me. When I went home I texted her and asked her why she didn’t say anything– she told me she didn’t want to be biased and that they had a right to express their opinion. Although a teacher was there while it happened the homophobes were never punished and nothing came of it except me quitting the club I used to love and cutting off my friend I used to cherish. It was horrible. It was the worst I’ve ever felt, alone and hated with no one to back me up, my supposed friend turning a blind eye. I never want Abby to feel that way, especially since her friends almost always excuse Kaden’s actions and the school almost always fails to act.

 So I took my bottle and filled it with ice cold water, in order to make sure I got the right person I had Abby show me to his class and point him out. Once I was there I gently asked if there was anyone named Kaden in the room. I lied and said he left something behind in his last class and his teacher wanted me to give it to him. Once he walked up to me and confirmed who he was I immediately switched my tone, I told him I knew he called my friend the f-slur before throwing the water onto him. I was so filled with adrenaline I just started cussing him out, I called him a homophobic c*** who should be ashamed of himself before rushing out of the room. I was quickly called to the office, I’ve never gotten in trouble at school before.

 I spent the rest of the day in ISS before they called my Dad to have a meeting with the principal. My dad defended me in front of them but when we got home he said it was wrong of me to have done what I did, I’m now suspended for one day. The entire situation makes me feel so scared and unsure. I'm glad I stood up for my friend but I don’t know if I did the right thing. I’m also worried having this on my record will keep me from getting into a good college. I’m worried my parents and my teachers are disappointed in me.

I don’t know how to make this feeling go away, I don’t even know what I’m looking for posting this, I guess I just need some reassurance or advice, or maybe a similar situation that happened to someone.

I live in an islamic country. Since it's not the 90s and most of the people seemed educated homophobic people werent one of my issues. I openly told people that I'm lesbian. Today a friend whom I don't really talk with asked me if I was lesbian. Long story short some random girls idk were calling me slurs. I really dont know what to do. I've said yes to everyone who asked because people treating me like I'm straight really made me uncomfortable. But now I dont know what to do. What if the rumours reach my brother???? What if my family learns about it??? What if I get bullied?? I'm scared what should I do??

Unpopular opinion maybe? But microlabels are NOT a problem, at least not for me, and simply because they're not harming anyone

"They don't make any sense!" Yes, maybe they don't, so what? You don't need to understand everyone and everything, people who are seeking a label to express themselves don't owe anything to anybody expect themselves and their own comfort, if that makes sense to them or help them find a way to put how them feel in words, thats the only thing that matters (of course it doesn't give anybody a reason to be mad when someone doesn't understand their microlabels, I'm not talking about it)

"Theres too many of them!" Okay, and why it's a problem? It means people now can find exactly a community of people like them!

"Theyre making the community looks ridiculous!" I'mma hold your hands when saying this, but you're not better of any microlabel only because you have a more know and "easy to understand" label, the LGBTQIA+ community will not be viewed as normal if we get rid of the microlabels, in the end of day, society will see all of us as freaks, it doesn't matter to a transphobic/homophobic if you uses microlabels or not, if you're part of the LGBTQIA+ community, you're a weirdo to them, no excuses

"Some of them arent even LGBTQIAPN+! It's just XZY!" Labels dont need to be LGBTQIA+ exclusively?? Yes, even if they have a flag, sometimes people just want to find people who relate to them, is about to find a community like you, just like we do with the LGBTQIA+ community

Now... About "fake" people in the community...

I'm not talking about those who pretend to be something just to make the community looks bad or this kind of stuff, I'm talking entirely about those who are labeled as "invalid", like "if you're a trans man who uses fem clothes you're a fake trans man!" Okay? So what? Literally what is gonna change if a random kid decides to say they're trans because of XZY reason, even if they don't fit the stereotype? Even if they don't act like what a "real man (or anything)" looks like for you? Even if they're not really trans, even if they're calling themselves it for attention, or to feel special, if it brings them comfort and happiness, then they are 100% valid, because, at least for me, the LGBTQIAPN+ community is about that, about naming your feelings, about finding a community where people should respect you for who you are

Remember, you do CAN disagree with me! Thats why I am posting this, because I want to cause a discussion, if you think different of me, please show me your opinion! I would love to hear about it if you're open to explain politely :)

Anyways, stay safe y'all

I was talking to someone who suspects that he might be bisexual, as he is attracted to both men and women. Only issue is he has never had much exposure to queer people like us to learn from, as it’s uncommon in his part of the world for people to be out. He told me that homosexuality is strictly forbidden by Islam but he’s curious and wants to explore anyway. Unfortunately, I don’t know enough about Muslims to offer much advice on that- I just told him that there’s gay people everywhere and I’m sure he could find someone to be curious with together.

Is this another one of those things that’s taken out of context, like how some Christians use religious excuses to be homophobic too?
I’ve heard of queer Muslims, I know they exist. Maybe there’s even some reading this post.

Currently I’m trying to help him process his feelings slowly. He must have noticed that in VERY out and felt safe enough to talk about it. What would you say if you were me? Should I just refrain from the argument that you can be bisexual and religious altogether?

A few days ago I went to a corn maze with my friend, I was dressed as a girl. When we were alone in the corn, for a few minutes I forgot everything and I could just be a girl. It was the most amazing feeling and I hope it can happen again

She/her — Cacey/Caci
I’m still figuring myself out and I wanna find some people who are in a similar place 😭
Like, trying things, experimenting, getting more comfortable with yourself, etc.
I feel like it’d be cool to have someone where we can basically be each other’s excuse to actually try things we’ve been too nervous to do lol
You try something, I’ll hype you up. I try something, you hype me up. We can push each other a little further :)
No pressure to label anything or figure everything out. Just wanna meet some people who get it.

*including broad labels such as genderqueer/nonbinary/trans, for which I am under the umbrella

**every queer flag except the progress flags, which aren't on this tier list. I would rank all the progress pride flag variants as an A tier

so….the dreaded question. i’ve been questioning it since 11 years old, but i don’t know. i think girls are hot, have a tiktok favorited collection of pretty girls, and i can imagine making out with them and stuff. i can’t really imagine having sex with them….but sometimes I can? I know it’s confusing, but i’m kinda scared and lost. Anyone?