“I put on a show for the sake of others, all the while denying myself the opportunity to live authentically.”
‘I spent my whole life trying to fit in, suppressing the things about me that made me different.’: Woman diagnosed with autism at 41
‘My mom found my diary. She broke down crying, ‘I think we have a gay daughter. Where did I go wrong?’: LGBT woman overcomes childhood trauma to advocate for others
“My dad started throwing out all my ‘boy clothes’ and told me to leave. He called me weird, nasty, stupid…every name in the book. ‘Where am I going to live? Who is going to love me?’ In a cloud of depression, I was ready to give up on life.”
‘I received an email from a stranger. ‘I’ve known about you all your life and looked for you for YEARS.’: Woman reconnects with birth family, creates jewelry brand representing hope
“I mustered up the courage to contact my biological father for the first time. I watched my phone for days and finally got the notification that the letter had been delivered. I was excited but worried about reopening old wounds. The next day, I got an email.”
‘I finally came out to my mom. ‘I GUARANTEE you won’t have a happy life!’: Woman accepts sexuality, opens queer business, urges ‘it’s okay to cut people out of your life’
“’You better NOT be gay! I hope you find a man who will sweep you off your feet!’ I could NEVER be in a relationship with a girl.”
‘I said to my 16-year-old, ‘If something ever happens to me and dad, don’t be surprised if I end up with a woman.’: Mom of 4 comes out, ‘I finally came home to myself’
“I craved a level of intimacy in which he wasn’t capable of giving. He’d say, ‘If you want that, you need to be with a woman.’”
‘2 weeks postpartum, I returned to work. I felt like I had an identity again. I had a purpose other than mom.’: Working mom urges ‘create your own perfect’
“The first few months weren’t always bad, but I felt lost. I was a shell of who I used to be. During all this drama and pain, I failed to get to know our son.”
‘Someone says you two have been acting like lesbians. Two women shouldn’t be sleeping in the same bed.’ Tears sprung to my eyes’: Lesbian woman navigates life after coming out
“I stared at him blankly, a rush of humiliation and shame flooding me. ‘Do you have sexual feelings for each other?’ he demanded. I lied.”
‘Why does our family look different than families on TV?’ There isn’t one way to be a perfect family.’: Lesbian single mom shares journey
“I realized it’s better for my child to have a happy parent than a straight parent.”
‘With a huge grin, my mom said, ‘Your daughter is an honor student? Well, mine’s a lesbian!’ She was so proud.’: LGBTQ mom shares what Pride means to her
“I felt as if my face was about to melt off. ‘Mom, I’m gay and I have a girlfriend. I think I love her.’ She started howling, deep belly laughing.”
‘I was told, ‘He won’t grow up RIGHT without a male figure in his life.’ I felt the need to be a perfect parent.’: Lesbian mom shares mental health struggles, urges ‘trust yourself’
“I’d constantly think about Asher getting cancer or being kidnapped. ‘You can’t possibly parent a normal child in a same-sex household.’ I felt like my life was falling apart.”
