#non-binary pride

“Awww guys like my post and tell me which pride flag you got! I got the trans flag!!”

Babies first pride

At the ripe age of 23 i decided to take the steps into going to pride. I tried last year, tried to go to the parade, it was very quickly overwhelming and i turned around and left after 10 minutes.

At the time i was really struggling with not feeling queer enough, not feeling like i looked queer enough, feeling like i didnt identify with my identity enough to be there. I freaked. And i left.

But this year i stayed for three hours. I talked to kind strangers, i painted, i bought beautiful pieces that i will cherish forever. I had one or two awkward interactions that i will think abt forever lmao...

What changed from last year to now?

A lot, as im sure you could see if you look at yourself between 365 days ago and now. Even if your immediate response is, "no beck, i havent changed" if you get down to it, i know you have.

And i know i have, ive fallen into a confidence within myself that i never thought id find. I clawed my way out of that "not good enough" hole, time and time again. I lost friends. I gained friends. I became honest with myself and the people i love, about so much more than my identity. I lost souls i really really loved. And i gained a source of healing that i had the whole time (its just me myself. I can heal me)

And i felt like it was time to take steps i knew would make me a little uncomfortable. How else should i grow? If not to push through the soil?

So i went to pride. And i bought beautiful and fun things and i talked to beautiful and fun people, both acts i would not have been able to do last year. And i had such a good time.

And i guess im writing this to say that you can too. Do that thing. Even if it isnt pride. Go to the community gathering. Go to the cafe you want to write in. Go to the bar you want to sing karaoke in. You may not do the activity you want. You may freak. You may need to leave after ten minutes. But you need to go. And then go again. And then again.

Pride is worth it. The love is worth it. The community is worth it. The strangers you meet eyes with are worth it. The eventual feeling of settling in is so worth it. Do the thing please.

Excited about this one - think I'm gonna order it myself! It took awhile to get it just right but I'm really happy with how it turned out. Plan to work on stickers and badges next (actually added the sticker this afternoon). #EnbyT-Shirt #Non-BinaryPride #GenderIsAConstruct