Instead of the Ally Tips & Self Care section, this month I wanted to bring attention to all of the Pride Season events and other events happening during the month of June that the LGBTQ Center will either be hosting or participating in!

One thing I hear a lot from people who want to do allyship is worry about how to address others, what language to use, and being hesitant to say the wrong thing or use an outdated term. Everyone will make mistakes at some point, but it’s important to TRY. Make a good faith effort to do better, and understand that if you mess up it isn’t the end of the world. I’ll use this article to give folks some additional tools…

Those of you in or around trans circles probably have at least heard of, if not celebrate in some way, International Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV or Trans Day of Visibility). It is a day to celebrate trans folks around the world, while also raising awareness to the discrimination of those folks.

Let's explore the multifaceted concept of empowerment within the LGBTQ+ community, delving into its nuanced significance and offering practical strategies for self-empowerment.

A constant struggle for a lot of LGBTQ folks is finding support and community, especially in rural areas. Oftentimes, when LGBTQ news is talked about, the narrative is focused on queer suffering. While addressing the issues and violence around those events, it’s important to remember that we can work to end suffering while also working to enable and build queer joy.

Way back in August of 2022, I wrote about ways to react to someone who comes out to you. Now, I want to flip the script and talk to the people who are maybe considering coming out for the first time or to a new group of people. Coming out is something you do multiple times, and as I’ll get into later, not everyone has an “official” coming out. Everything I am going to say below is under the assumption that whoever is reading this is ready to come out, and feels safe to do so. If you do not feel safe coming out to a particular group of people, make your safety a priority!

I am sure most of us in the LGBTQ+ Community know all too well what it feels like to live in a world that often encourages conformity, the essence of authenticity stands out as a beacon of self-discovery and genuine connection. Being authentic means embracing who you truly are, free from the constraints of societal expectations and the pressures to conform. Let’s explore the meaning of authenticity, why it's crucial, and how you can embark on the journey of being authentically you and ultimately, a happier you!

Last year I talked about some ways to check in with yourself when it comes to the New Year and doing some kind of resolution. This year I want to expand on some of those ideas, introduce some new ones, and also look at ways you can use these tips to help others in your life by offering new tips/tools for them to use if you see them struggling.

Since we are back in the holiday season, there will be a lot of people traveling and seeing family that they don’t see that often, or maybe for longer than normal. This can be a very awkward time of year, especially for LGBTQ people, as we try and navigate who we can be ourselves around, what topics of conversation we have to avoid, and even sometimes having to choose how a partner is introduced. For folks that have a disability, a history of substance use, or any other background that is not deemed by society to be “correct,” there can be a lot of stigma around their identity that can bring extra stress to the holidays.

As we enter November, that means holidays and family and food and colder weather. This year, I want to remind our readers how the language we use can be affirming, or make LGBTQ+ folks feel belittled.