I’m younger and in the same boat I’m a bi person questioning gender, and I remember what it was like 10 years ago, but due to precarious family politics I’m stuck in the closet even now. I’m horrified knowing how much worse it was 15 years ago.

I remember taking a politics class in high school around 2015, and even though I lived in a deep blue state at that time, people were debating whether or not trans people should have the right to exist, and the amount of disgust I heard in people’s voice when talking about trans people is horrifying. I remember being in heated debates on whether or not someone would have the right to refuse service to gay people because of their “religious reasons” and just knowing that things were comparatively better when I had my political awakening around then is not a very good thought. I feel bad for more elder queers who had it much worse.

Although I wouldn’t realize I was bi for a few years, I ended up finding that whole situation pretty radicalizing, and it pushed me towards more militant queer activism. People’s existence is not up for debate. Respect existence, or expect resistance.

I might show up to pride as the strangely militant straight cis ally, but I refuse to let queer rights erode to the point that it was at a decade ago, and I’ll fight for a future that I can eventually come out in, and one where people are not confined to the closet.