lgbtq+ representation is still important even when you’re grown asf.

Growing up in the 90s and early 2000s, I almost never encountered characters in books or on screen who reflected my own experiences and identities as a black queer or the opportunities that were there for me as I grew into a black queer woman. This had me feeling isolated and invisible in some ways because I surely couldn’t talk to my family about being queer. I understood their stance about the lgbtq+ community without them even having to say anything to me directly. The way my family threw around derogatory terms about the lgbtq+ community in the house created a sense of shame within long before I even fully identified with the terms. You can imagine how this impacted me coming out to them.

Discovering LGBTQ+ literature as an adult was like finding a home I didn't even know I was missing. It’s a reminder that there are people like me that are thriving in the world. Without this representation in media it’s easy to feel unseen and unheard. Representation in books and media gives a glimmer of hope, a sense of validation, and helps to make you feel seen and understood.