Year-In-Review
2023
Before sitting down to reflect on this past year, I wanted to look back at where I was one year ago in this same position. Reading through my year-in-review from 2022 has shown me the personal growth I have achieved. Last year, I spoke about wanting to learn more about the community I am in, and I have done just that.
I am hitting a point in my life where I am really realizing that I just need to be who I am proudly, no matter who may not like that. In this past year, I have learned so much about the history of the LGBTQ+ community in the United States, and it has really inspired me to push things further. It is foolish of me to complain that change is not being made if I am not pushing boundaries to make these differences myself.I looked at inspirational queer people who changed this country so people my age could be so much more open about our identities. It is so important to me that the change continues so that kids years from now do not even think twice about who they are or who knows about it. These queer trailblazers were unapologetically them, knowing that this whole issue was bigger than just them. They saw the big picture, and have deeply inspired me to do the same.
One thing I did in this past year that demonstrated this growth was reaching out to a gay family friend to support her. She goes to the high school that I went to and had been feeling really alone because of her sexual orientation. I let her know that I am always right next-door and open to talk about anything and everything she does not feel comfortable talking to her mom about. I just know that I would have really appreciated an older gay person to talk to about the things I was going through at school. She and I went out to get lunch and I even invited her and a friend to go to pride this year with my group!
I know this growth is only beginning because I have such a supportive family that pushes me to be better. Since coming out two years ago now, my family has been so excited to learn more about the community with me. Just a couple days before I am sitting down to write this, my mom took my friend and I to a drag brunch that was a fundraiser for LGBTQ+ youth in Cincinnati. I am beyond happy that they are so encouraging and I have no doubt that they will continue pushing me to do more and be more me.
2022
The social issue that was most significant to me this past year was LGBTQ+ rights. Being lesbian, I have obviously always felt very strongly about this, but in the past year I have grown so much closer to others in the community that have fostered this caring even further. Another major reason why I think this has become a major point of focus in my life is because almost a year ago now I came out to my family. I think that although this went over incredibly well, it has left me thinking about others who are not so fortunate.
Having grown up Catholic, I knew I needed to kind of get myself out of my box to be able to learn about this topic. This area is something that was not talked about at all in my Catholic gradeschool/highschool or at home, and if it was, it was not in a very positive light. In high school, I kind of realized that I needed a more accepting and opening community to be able to relearn some things from my previous “education”. My first year of college, I kind of slacked on getting better connected with these groups. I knew a couple of people in the community who were willing to talk about things with me, but they should not be the only thing helping me relearn things I grew up with. While I think it is refreshing to talk with my queer friends about these topics, it is absolutely not their responsibility to teach me about their identities. I am firm in the belief that it is my duty to educate myself to better understand them. This past year, I really tried to grow closer to LGBTQ+ people in my life as well as make some new friends that are a part of this community.
When I look at what steps are next in solving this social issue, I am mildly stumped. While I will without a doubt attend protests when it comes to “Don’t Say Gay” laws being created, there is only so much I can do. I have always tried to elect officials who I think care about things such as this. I think that a lot of people underestimate the power that voting really carries. It is so important to use this opportunity to show where your values truly lie and attempt to be a part of the change.