Growing Up Queer: Turning Surviving Into Thriving

Adolescence feels like navigating a landscape full of unspoken rules and risks for people in the LGBTQIA+ community. Even if you had love at home, the world around you often sent quiet (and not-so-quiet) messages that your identity was wrong, invisible, or unwelcome. Maybe it showed up in the small things — a teacher asking why you didn’t have a boyfriend or girlfriend, sex ed that assumed only straight relationships, or school dances that felt off-limits. Those microaggressions are constant reminders that we don’t fit the mold.

Many of us learned to cope in ways that hid the pain — focusing on schoolwork, avoiding social situations, or keeping parts of ourselves secret. On the surface it looked like we were fine, but inside there could be worry, loneliness, or the constant fear of rejection. Some of us heard slurs in the hallway while teachers looked the other way. Others never saw themselves reflected in the curriculum — not a single LGBTQIA+ author, historical figure, or leader acknowledged for who they really were. All of that silence can feel like erasure.

Surviving all of that took strength, creativity, and resilience. The very qualities that helped you get through adolescence can now help you heal and thrive. Seeing your identity reflected in your community, building connections with others who’ve been there, and finding affirming spaces as an adult can begin to mend those old wounds. It’s also never too late to speak your truth, reclaim visibility, and demand inclusion — for yourself and for the next generation coming up behind you.

You deserved better then, and you deserve affirmation now. Your identity is valid, your story matters, and there is space for you to be fully seen and celebrated.