"Ask Julieta" is back, and what better topic this month then my own personal experience and feelings about Pride!
What does “pride” mean to you?
Pride means the freedom to express my sexuality with PRIDE. To honor the trailblazing folks who came before me, did unimaginably hard and scary work, all in the name of making our sexuality, our ability to love and relate, normalized and accepted.
Did you have a “coming out” moment? If so, when and how did it go?
Lucky for me, I grew up in an open household where sexualities outside of heterosexual were accepted, talked about, and embraced in our friends and family. While I never had a proper coming out, I definitely had my sprinkles of childhood memories realizing boys werent my only options: Seeing Kate Beckinsale in Underworld, feeling tingles when Britney made out with Madonna, and making my female sims characters have sex lol!
Although, it took a while to put a label on my sexuality: I went from open, to fluid, to finally bisexual since it felt right to honor that.
What advice would you give to someone who’s not out yet?
My advice to those who aren't out yet: Go at your own pace, in a way that makes sense and keeps you safe in your immediate environment. I think so many times we are pressured to be out OUT, and that isn't realistic for everyone. So while you are working your way "out", think, how can I start shifting my life to match my coming out? Does this mean making new friends? Maybe going to a friendlier town? Considering a new job? You deserve environments and people that support your safety and authentic self.
What challenges do bisexual, pansexual, and fluid people face that other members of the LGBTQ+ community may not be aware of?
Many people, including a large portion of the queer community, think Bi, Pan, or Fluid people are confused or fake. They authentically think that we just haven't chosen a "side", and that can be very exiling. It's surprising to even think that this happens in the Queer community, which is already a marginalized group.
Who are some of your favorite LGBTQIA+ icons or role models?
I think Ru Paul is a pretty obvious one for more queer folk, but the role models I think of most are the queer community I had around me: My gay neighbors, friends, and micro-moments with others that helped me feel seen and understood.
