Pride Month
The Awkward Teenage Years...
Sometimes, when I look back, and I’m sure many people can relate to this, I felt like I was living a double life before I came out as gay. It was quite a while ago, but every now and then, memories will present themselves and I’ll think about how I would’ve handled situations if I had been honest with myself and those around me.
By Himmet Kazak3 years ago in Pride
COME OUT, COME OUT, WHATEVER YOU ARE
First, Happy Pride Month everyone. I applaud every single one of you and I love you all. I even love me. I haven’t always loved myself. I was born in the last century, nineteen-fifty to be exact. I am the oldest boy of eight children. I am the only homo in the lot. My six sisters all have children and my brother took care of ensuring the family name would live on. I’m a great uncle to his grand son. As I said, I’m seventy and I live alone.
By David Zinke aka ZINK3 years ago in Pride
Stories By LGBTQIA+ Vocal Creators & The Perfect Songs To Go With Them. Top Story - June 2021.
Every time a new challenge is announced on Vocal that interests me, I jump at the chance to enter. That's the logical thing to do, right? And the most recent challenge that asked Vocal+ members to create a Pride Playlist seemed right up my alley considering that my playlists are full of songs by LGBTQIA+ artists. So I did what anyone would do in that moment and submitted my entry.
By C.R. Hughes3 years ago in Pride
My Journey to Happiness
Hello, my name is Queen Amina, I am the Queen of Hearts & Jack of Trades; this is my happy story! My happy story begins with a not-so-happy beginning. In my senior year of high school, I attentively sat in class amongst the other ambitious and excited 2011 class graduates. With three months of school left a career counselor and co-host popular chef stepped into my classroom and stated this quote,” Work a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life!” It was so simply said and understood as I analyzed the room seeing all my peers just as so. On their successful path to living and loving what they do in complete happiness. The nicely dressed and high-paid career counselor encouraging ambitious youth to find their love career. The co-host chef who's living their cooking fantasy at the fancy restaurant on the Vegas Strip. My friend beside me who’s aiming to become a nurse has already been accepted in college. The A-plus student soon to be a restaurant owner. At last, the go-pride artist that easily struts their free spirit life, freely! As for me, well, that was a challenge. "There's still so much I haven‘t learned about myself,” I thought. With so many intriguing skills, talents, and interests, I didn’t know where to begin.
By Queen Amina3 years ago in Pride
Chameleon Pride Patches
This project began with a creative slump. In May I quit my craft store cashier job, no longer feeling joy from it. For a majority of May I created very little, lots of sketches, but none that I wanted to bring into existence. Nothing was “speaking” to me. I was mentally, creatively, and emotionally burnt-out. After taking the better part of a month off, taking the first real break I could since October, a change was needed.
By Samantha Flucht3 years ago in Pride
Cutting Through Clothing Waste: Cause-related Crafting
Cutting Through Clothing Waste: Cause-related Crafting Finding myself with extra time on my hands as a result of COVID-mandated shutdowns, I renewed my passion in all things crafting, a hobby that was a large part of my childhood spent with my even-craftier twin sister. Like most moms, I started making wreaths to both pass the time with my young son and beautify our home, where we were spending more time than ever.
By The Girl is Craftyyy3 years ago in Pride
Pride (In The Name of a Playlist)
Howdy; and welcome to June. When it comes to the LGBT+ community, I am most likely an "ally" in the best of times; and an unintentional OFFENDER in the worst of times (in my understanding, actual cruelty/nastiness requires INTENT; or at least the refusal to apologize for LEGITIMATE offenses).
By Kent Brindley3 years ago in Pride
Pride and young
My story is still continuing but I wish it will finally come to an end now. The day I found out that I had a strong interest in my own gender. I was generally not surprised. I’ve been questioning my liking for awhile. It was a day where a female started to hit on me with her bright color here and her soft smile that lights up every time I make a joke. Butterflies started to act up in my belly like there was no tomorrow. The fact that she was there to make a smile appear at my darkest moment still questions me. Why me ? Why not me? Do I like her? Maybe it's just a type of stage that will pass by? Maybe not. I'm young and I don't know anything many people say. Those many people were liars they didn't know any better as I grief thinking be a gay is sin for those who told me made me wonder. I asked my mom would if my brother would be gay knowing I was referring to me. The silence was loud enough for me. At that moment my mother already took too long to answer. I knew the answer before she said. My mom was always there for me; she supported me when she needed to. I didn't know if I was bi, straight or gay. I would not classify me as queer. I always had an answer to everything and it's hard to accept what I am if I can't come to any conclusions. Here are songs suppressing pain and enlightening my love for a girl. My moments in a song and my songs are my moments I would never think I would ever write a word that will ever even a little bit explain how I feel. My feeling is worth a thousand words but my words are just minor just like me. Katy Perry - I kissed a girl I like it, “Lost my discretion. It's not what I'm used to (used to). Just wanna try you on. I'm curious for you (for you). Caught my attention. I kissed a girl and I liked it. The taste of her cherry chapstick. I kissed a girl just to try it”.Doja cat - Kiss me more, “We hug and yes, we make love, And always just say "Goodnight" (la-la-la-la-la), And we cuddle, sure I do love it.But I need your lips on mine. Can you kiss me more? We're so young, boy. We ain't got nothin' to lose, oh, oh”. Kehlani - Distraction,“Do you, do you, do you, do you wanna be.Do me a favor, pick me up, take me out later. Don't worry about no paper. 'Cause I got mine stacked up for nights like this. My life can get crazy, I deal with shit on the daily. But baby I'm thinking maybe. We could agree to work it out like this. I need you (you, oh). To give me your time (give me your time). I need you (you, oh).To not wanna be mine oh”. Giveon - Like I want you, “Sometimes I wish you knew. But I disguise the truth. I say I'm happy but I'm still stuck on us, mmm, mmm, mmm. Does your mind play this game too? Think 'bout me and you. I guess I'll just pretend. Until it all makes sense, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm. See you face to face, I'm thinking 'bout the days we used to be. But I can't make a scene, but I can't make a scene. See you face to face, I'm thinking 'bout the days we used to be. But I can't make a scene, but I can't make it seem.” Tylor the creator - See you again, “You exist behind my eyelids, my eyelids.Now I don't wanna wake up. 20/20, 20/20 vision. Cupid hit me, cupid hit me with precision. I wonder if you look both ways. When you cross my mind (Yeah), I said, I said. I'm sick of, sick of, sick of, sick of chasing. You're the one that's always running through my daydream, I, I can only see your face when I close my eyes. Can I get a kiss? And can you make it last forever? I said I'm 'bout to go to war. And I don't know if I'll see you again. Can I get a kiss? (Can I). And can you make it last forever? (Can you). I said I'm 'bout to go to war.” On repeat on a daily basis, one of my favorite songs. I want more but then I leave because I'm indecisive but can't wait to see her again. Her intelligence and her touch is like a spark to the brain and my heart. Speak out aloud for existence. I am gay and that is final.
By SHAMEKA SAMUEL3 years ago in Pride
My Pride Playlist throughout Coming Out.
Paradox: I knew it but I also had no idea. You hear the word gay but you’re not sure what it means. All you know are the laughs, snickers, and uncomfortable faces that follow. You try to distance yourself as far from that word as possible. You’re attracted to girls. You know it, you feel it, but you’re thinking of princes. You’ve been told one day you’d find your Prince. And you think that’s reality, the one and only way of reality being. You hear Lady Gaga’s Born This Way. It comforts you. You don’t quite understand why. Yes, it’s a great song, with a great beat. Everyone is dancing. But there’s something more. You feel better in your own skin, you’re not doing anything wrong.
By ABCwritten3 years ago in Pride
Celebrating Pride Month...From the Closet
I discovered I was bisexual in 2013, when I drunkenly attempted to convince a girl on a cruise to come back to my room. My fiancé was sitting next to me, and - needless to say - he had questions. So did I. I’d always held the view that LGBTQIA+ relationships were no different than hetero relationships, and I guess it just took me 19 years to realize that it held true for me personally as well.
By Stephanie Nielsen3 years ago in Pride