LGBT Pride Month 2022

I know it's a wee bit early, but the LGBT Pride Month is a big celebration in my books and I am very festive for the whole month.

The first big Pride Month I celebrated, I was working at a hotel and asked permission from my boss to wear a Pride shirt instead of my uniform. She agreed and it was so exciting. I remember it was a great experience.

This year, I ordered two shirts: One is grey with a rainbow on it that says, "Can't even think straight" and the other is a closeup of a rainbow cat wearing sunglasses that says, "PURRRIDE". I am debating on ordering more shirts, but it's a great start!

I never had to do a major coming out in my family. My parents have always known I've liked boys and girls, and one year I brought my girlfriend over to a big family gathering, and my brother and cousin was hiding in a closet waiting to scare me when I told my girlfriend, "Let's go somewhere else to make out, I don't want to get caught kissing a girl." So that's when my brother and cousin realized I was into girls.

Unfortunately, I have not been able to come out to my grandparents, and it's tough. I am afraid it would upset them or that it would change our relationship.

There is something else that I identify as an LGBT person, but it is something I have not even confided in to my BFF of 17 years. I am not quite ready to come out with that side of me, but it is something I have known my whole life, and I worry there is no point in coming out as I wouldn't change anything about me and it would likely cause a big upset with my family.

It's a little early, but HAPPY LGBT PRIDE 2022!!!!

I came out as trans to my therapist in November 2019. She helped me tell my mom who was unsure at first but then when I said "this is who I am. This is who I always was." She got it and has been nothing but supportive and shes the one who gives me my weekly HRT shots and she took care of me after my surgeries. Everyone else I told was like "no duh, we always knew you wanted to be a boy." My entire family is all very supportive and uses my correct name and pronouns. I don't make a big deal out of it though. I know they accept me. I have one shirt that says protect trans kids and I have an Adidas pride hat. I don't wear that kind of stuff outside the house though. Sometimes I wear the hat. Most LGBTQ people I know just want to blend in with everyone else so they don't typically wear that stuff unless its at pride events. Being harrassed is a very real fear of mine even though I pass.

Thanks for this. I've never considered myself to be LGBT although technically I guess I am. (Transgender) And I've never participated in an LGBT-related event. You mentioned not coming out to grandparents. I never came out to anyone until I finally (awkwardly) spilled the beans to my wife in the process of trying to delete myself from this level of reality, so to speak. It turned out she didn't care to know anything about it... and still doesn't. So it's don't ask / don't tell around here. And, even at that, I didn't spill EVERYTHING... and never will. (Some things are, perhaps, best kept to oneself?)

I recall that, several years ago now, I happened on some LGBT rings on eBay. And, for some reason, I really wanted one. I "talked" about it with a few on-line acquaintances I had at the time. And they convinced me I didn't really "qualify". (I don't know... perhaps they were right.) Anyway, as it happened, I found a silver Navaho-made ring that has different color squares of minerals & shell across the top. I bought it right away. And it turned out it fit my pinkie finger perfectly. So that's where I wear it. To me, it has the appearance of an LGBT ring. But no one else would likely make that association. (I've had a number complements on it over the ensuing years though.) And although it's not an LGBT ring, when I wear it, it reminds me of that part of me nobody knows at all.

I've sometimes wondered what it would be like to attend a Pride event. But I'm pretty certain I never will. I wouldn't have any way to get there. Plus I dislike crowds as well as noise and commotion. So even if I did figure out a way to get to one I likely wouldn't enjoy it. I prefer to keep to myself as much as possible.

Happy LGBT PRIDE 2022!!!

P.S. In retrospect, this turned out to be sort-of a lack-of-pride post. To the extent that is the case, I offer my apologies. Pride of any sort has always been something I've not had a lot of.

A similar thing happened to me. A young lady told me that while i may be very "open", i wasnt a member. How do they know??! And where did that leave me? Also, i was gender non-compliant waaaay before it was a thing. 1974 i was telling my college shrink that i was a neuter. 1975 applying for a marriage license, the college dr made me pull down my pants - actually my overalls. Okay i see her point. But nobody i ever asked ever had to do that.

Sorry for the hijacking, lark! Enjoy the month!

I happen to think @Skeezyks being trans qualifies.

I have often been mistaken for an ally of the community, but I'm not. I'm member. Happy Pride!