When I was younger and first figuring myself out, I was told with repeat consistence that it was a phase, and I would grow out of it. My identity traveled from pansexual to lesbian as I realized I have no attraction to men. It was never loud, the ridicule that is. It was also back handed online comments that I read under the impression of an innocent mind. No one ever outright told me it was wrong to be queer, this was an assumption I made myself. With hateful words that told me my very existence was wrong Growing up with and on the internet as a queer person was an experience that is evened out by the negatives and positives. I was exposed to a lot of negativity towards the LGBTQ+ community, but I also found a community so that I wasn’t alone in the process of discovering myself. I found people like me, people who could relate what I was going through and people who would support me when I couldn’t find that in the people around my real life. I want to pursue writing to give people the same representation that I needed in order to discover myself. I want to help people understand that it is no “sin” or misunderstanding. I want kids like me to understand that it’s fit outside of the box. That it’s ok to change and grow. My goal and purpose for my books and stories are to teach others that it’s okay to be themselves. With my words, my only hope it that it will carry on some advice to the next generation of queer youth. Letting them learn how to be themselves without the judgement of others. I feel as if there are too many stipulations around LGBTQ+ people and the queer community. “It’s a sin” “It goes against the bible” “It’s predatory and hurts people” The only thing hurting people is the negativity that others will spew about our people. I want to help people and create beautiful art in the process. I want to do this by keeping my worlds filled with queer people. I want it to be overflowing with people of all kinds. Every different shade of skin, identity, gender and whatever else I can squeeze in there. There is something so special about seeing someone on the big screen or in a book that shares something with you. It’s such a beautiful moment when you get to gasp and say “they’re like me!” It’s that overwhelming giddiness that I want to share with others. Because no one should feel like it’s wrong to be themselves, as long as you’re not hurting yourself or others.