LGBTQIA+ Ally blog

Being an ally to the LGBTQIA+ community is important to me. I have always strongly believed that I should be kind to everyone. I do not understand why some people have a problem with this community. I have greatly admired this community since I was in my early twenties. I feel like I have a little bit of an understanding about how other people treat them.

I often feel like I have to mask who I am to fit in. I have concerns about sharing my autistic identity with others since I never know how others may react to this part of me. I have had a few situations where others seemed to accept my autism at the time, however, later they used my words against me. They implied that I was making everything about my needs and my autism. I took that to mean that they thought I was selfish, self-centered, and needy. The good news is that this rarely happens to me. I believe I can understand the way having a label changes the way the world sees me and others which makes me think about how other perceive those who identify as LGBTQIA+.

It happens that I have family members who identify as LGBTQIA+. I’m so proud of them for being true to themselves. I wonder if it was hard for them to tell me. I wonder how long they knew about this part of themselves before they told me? For me, it didn’t change much about the way I thought or acted around them as they were the same individuals I loved and cared about all the years that I’ve know them.

I feel sad whenever I hear about my family members getting negative reactions to being LGBTQIA+ which is an important part of their identities. I think I only heard about a few times that this has happened but not the rest of the times. I can understand them keeping this information to themselves. I hope they have someone they can share their frustrations and feelings with more freely. I have many hopes for the world.

My biggest wish for the world would be that everyone is accepted and treasured for who they really are. I wish that everyone could be kinder to each other. My Mom used to often say that she wanted a kinder, gentler world. She showed that viewpoint with everyone she interacted with each day. She was my truest role model. I miss seeing and talking to her. I often wonder how she would react to many of the situations I see today.

As always, please take care of yourself. My hope is that each one of my readers is valued and treasured for who they are.  Wishing everyone the ability to be accepted and to show acceptance to others.