By Gary Eldon Peter

“Effeminate.” I had heard that before, in all its variations, both nouns and adjectives.

By James Homan

The Atlantic Ocean was even more beautiful than the Pacific, and warmer, too. The clouds at night remained white during the night as well as the day, and I realized I was lost.

By Jonathan Joly

On a deeper level I also felt that I was fighting for my younger self. I had no champion willing to stand up for me like that when I was a child.

By Jane Badler

My son had a vision for the world. He called himself “ANTIBOY”. He was against all labels and yearned for freedom to be whoever he wanted to be, and imagined a world where people were judged on their hearts and minds, not on their gender.

By Wade Rouse

My mom’s love for and pride in me, and her show of strength when everything could have been lost for her, changed countless lives and continues to have a ripple effect.

By Aislin Neufeldt

I’m trans, queer, and from the town in HBO’s Somebody Somewhere, and I appreciate the speculative nature of this show and the possibilities it reaches for.

By Alicia Oliver

This would be simpler if I could just pretend that I was straight, but I can’t. I can’t live a lie like that.

By Richard Lewallen

There were lots of hugs, laughter and tears. Then I knew that I was okay and would be okay. I would be okay with myself and with God. And I knew things were changing for the better—a big step in the search for my true self.

By LIsa Salmon

When his name is read out, I whisper a prayer for my friend: “You matter. We all matter.”

By Craig Archibald
As I entered the restaurant, surrounded by these brave and talented gay pioneers, I caught my reflection in a window. Still so very gay, now completely out, and neither pathetic nor a fallacy.