Shane and Ryland

Me:

I grew up in a community where being gay wasn’t ok, but I was also taught that we should still love those who are. I ended up becoming a huge ally. My parents always got annoyed with how ‘into’ the LGBT+ community I was. I always said it was because I believed that if you don’t think something is fair you should fight to change it.

For the longest time I wondered if I liked girls. I remember going to Girl Scout camp, and it was the first time I remember people making fun of someone for being gay. I became great friends with a girl that said she was bi. I remember one night when we shared a tent, I was trying to force myself to ask her how she knew, but I was too scared. Now that I look back on it, I definitely had a crush on her. One time we went backpacking overnight. We shared a very small tent, and even held hands. When I realized that she liked me too, I freaked out and tried to push her and any thought of liking girls, away. I was 12 that summer.

After that, I never allowed myself to really explore the idea of not being straight. At one point I was even bold enough to believe (or at least say that I believed) that Bisexuality wasn’t real. I was still really ‘religious’ at the time and believed that if you were attracted to girls and boys, then you did have a choice. In high school I ended up haveing two really intense ‘BFF’ ‘we Finnish each other sentences’ friendships. I look back and realize that I had huge crushes on them, but at the time they were just my best friends, and luckily for me, it’s seen as normal for girls to be super affectionate and touchy with their best friends.

Once I got into college I still considered myself straight, but I would get this weird feeling when watching videos about people coming out. Something inside my head would say, ‘you should come out’. But that didn’t make since because I didn’t like girls. It wasn’t until I started allowing myself to actually contemplate not being straight did I realize the attraction I had for girls.

One of the biggest people that has been an inspiration for me excepting my bisexuality is RJ, rj4gui4r. I related to his story. Watching his videos is what allowed me to feel comfortable questioning my sexuality in the first place.

When I watched Shane Dawson’s coming out video it all clicked. When he talked about how it would be so much easier if he was gay or straight, because then he would at least know what he was, I felt like someone had finally put how I had been feeling for years, into words. I started crying when he talked about how he had to believe that god still loved him. That’s still my biggest battle.

My relationship with god used to be a gigantic part of my life. Then I slowly started to fall away, mainly because of the way the church feels about the LGBT community. My parents and sister comment on my lack faith a lot. I tell them that I need to find a church that doesn’t condemn homosexuality and they tell me that it isn’t following god if they don’t condemn it. I can’t believe it is wrong. I need to believe that it is ok. That I am ok.

It’s still hard for me to tell people that I’m bi. But not for why you would think. I often wish I could just say I was gay. Because there is so much stigma behind being Bi. It’s just as hard for me to come out to gay people as it is to straight people. I’m not out to my family. They think I’m still just a big ally. I honestly don’t know if I will ever come out to them unless I get in a serious relationship with a girl. Its still really scary, sometimes I wish I would just put it out of my mind and just be straight, but I know that’s not who I am. And I’m working on it. I’m working on accepting myself.

Marsha P. Johnson

A leader of the Stonewall Riots. According to several eyewitnesses, Marsha was the one who “really started it”. She was “in the middle of the whole thing, screaming and yelling and throwing rocks and almost like Molly Pitcher in the Revolution or something”

Dedicated her life to activism:

Co-founded the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (later renamed Street Transgender Action Revolutionaries)

Ensured that the young drag queens, trans women and other street kids on Christopher Street were fed and clothed. Marsha also housed them whenever she could. 

In the 1980s, she was an activist and organizer in ACT UP. 

Stormé DeLarverie

Also a leader in the Stonewall Riots - has been identified as the “butch lesbian that threw the first punch” against the police officers.

Several eye-witnesses recollections also recognize her as the cross-dressing lesbian that yelled “why don’t you guys do something” at the bystanders that evoked the reaction from them that helped make Stonewall a defining moment in history.

Unofficially worked at gay bars who otherwise couldn’t afford security.

Bayard Rustin

Was a leading strategist of the U.S. Civil Rights Movement between 1955-1968:

The formidable behind the scenes figure of the civil rights movement who organized the March on Washington

Through his influence, the civil rights leadership adopted a non-violent stance.

Is and was often overlooked in African-American history because of the public’s discomfort with his sexual orientation.

Supported LGBTQ rights and movements.

Was posthumously awarded Rustin the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama.

Miss Major Griffin-Gracy

Another leader in the Stonewall Riots.

Has been involved in community efforts since 1978. She has worked at local food banks, provide services for trans women suffering from addiction or homelessness. During the AIDS epidemic she also provided healthcare and funeral services.

Is currently serving as the Executive Director for the Transgender GenderVariant Intersex Justice Project, working to assist transgender persons who are disproportionately incarcerated under a prison-industrial complex.

Alvin Ailey

At the young age of 22, Alvin AIley became Artistic Directer for the Horton Dance Company where he choreographed as well as directed scenes and costume designs.

Formed the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre in 1958 but continued to choreograph for other companies.

Ailey’s signature works prominently reflects his Black pride.

Is credited for popularizing modern dance. 

Was also posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama.