OUTniagara
  • Menu Canvas
    • Our Community
      • Membership – Join us!
      • Community Groups and Organizations
      • OUTfriends Business & Services Directory
      • Humans of OUTniagara
      • 2SLGBTQ+ Community Fund
    • About Us
      • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
      • Meet Our Staff
      • Contact Us
    • Resources
      • Indigenous Solidarity Resources
      • Beyond the Rainbow Resource Syllabus
      • OUT IN Niagara Education Resources
    • DONATE
    • Informed, Inclusive, Indivisible: Collectively Advancing 2SLGBTQ+ Equality in Niagara+
    • Sidebar
Uniting Niagara's Sexual and Gender Diverse Community.
OUTniagara
  • OUR COMMUNITY
    • Membership – Join Us!
    • Community Groups and Organizations
    • Humans of OUTniagara
    • Indigenous Solidarity Resources
  • ABOUT US
    • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
    • Meet Our Staff
    • Annual Reports
    • Contact Us
  • Resources
    • Indigenous Solidarity Resources
    • Beyond the Rainbow Resource Syllabus
    • OUT IN Niagara Education Resources
  • Donate
  • 2SLGBTQ+ Community Fund
  • Informed, Inclusive, Indivisible: Collectively Advancing 2SLGBTQ+ Equality in Niagara+
    • Community Strengths & Needs Assessment

Humans of OUTniagara

Homepage OUT With It Humans of OUTniagara Humans of OUTniagara

Humans of OUTniagara

Jenn Wallace
January 2, 2020
Humans of OUTniagara

As a person who identifies as queer and genderqueer, there are a lot of “boxes” I don’t fit into.

I don’t fit into gender roles. I don’t fit into social norms. I don’t fit into the (North) American dream of boy meets girl, fall in love, white picket fence, two kids and a dog. I don’t fit into some religious teachings. In some countries, I don’t even fit into the law.

For some people, they’ve decided that I’m a problem. Somewhere along the course of their lives, someone else taught them that people like me are wrong. That people like me are gross, or confused, or sick, or going to hell.

What happens when someone young is taught this belief by someone they trust, only to discover they too are queer (feel free to insert any other 2SLGBTQIA+ identity for the word “queer”)?

They fit themselves into the metaphorical closet, but is this really a metaphor? Imagine fitting yourself into a space where you are uncomfortable, supressed, and dark… sounds like a closet to me. As horrible as this sounds, it does serve a purpose. Closets can provide protection, a sense of safety, and enough oxygen to survive for a while. Mine certainly did.

My greatest wish for this world is that we continue to have more people open their hearts to becoming allies to the community, and fewer closet doors nailed closed.

I fit in with my family, my partner, my workplace. I fit in with my community of friends, yogis, supporters, allies, and fellow folks under the broad spectrum of a never-long-enough acronym. I fit into my own skin. I fit in where it matters, and that is never overrated.

– Celeste Turner

 

 

#

Humans of OUTniagara

Would you like to submit a story to Humans of OUTniagara? We are accepting submissions on an ongoing basis. You are not obligated to be a member of OUTniagara to share with us.
LEARN MORE HERE

 

 

Tags: Humans of OUTniagara
Previous Story
Humans of OUTniagara
Next Story
Humans of OUTniagara

Related Articles

Humans of OUTniagara

It was a history-making event for Niagara. On Friday, June...

Humans of OUTniagara

Each tattoo I have has a story. Each has greater...

Become a Member

Stronger together. Join our growing network! Become a member and join a vibrant and diverse community of 2SLGBTQ+ and ally voices.


Become a Member

Recent Posts

  • OUTniagara looking to work with Consultants Friday, 28, Oct
  • Join the OUTniagara Regional Advisory Committee! Wednesday, 21, Sep
  • OUTniagara withdraws support from Canada Summer Games Sunday, 31, Jul
  • OUTniagara Statement regarding Roe vs. Wade overturned Friday, 24, Jun
  • OUTniagara is hiring a Project Assistant! Tuesday, 7, Jun

Categories

2SLGBTQ+ History Community Groups Global News Humans of OUTniagara News Niagara News OUTnews OUT With It Support

Search


OUTniagara supports our local 2SLGBTQ+ community and beyond by amplifying the voices of our community, acting as a public policy advocate and helping to build relationships within the community.

Get In Touch.

12-111 Fourth Avenue, Suite 270
St. Catharines, Ontario L2S 3P5
Email: info@outniagara.ca

With Thanks.

Web hosting and technical support by ALT Technical.

Sign Up for Email Notifications.

[newsletter_form button_label=”Sign Up Now”][newsletter_field name=”email” label=”” placeholder=”Please Enter your Email”][/newsletter_form]

Follow Us:
OUTniagara - Copyright 2018.
SearchPostsLoginCart
Friday, 28, Oct
OUTniagara looking to work with Consultants
Wednesday, 21, Sep
Join the OUTniagara Regional Advisory Committee!
Sunday, 31, Jul
OUTniagara withdraws support from Canada Summer Games
Friday, 24, Jun
OUTniagara Statement regarding Roe vs. Wade overturned
Tuesday, 7, Jun
OUTniagara is hiring a Project Assistant!
Friday, 3, Jun
OUTniagara: Kudos to Niagara Catholic school board for flying progress pride flag

Welcome back,