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Texas continues to remove LGBTQ suicide prevention resources from state websites
The Texas Department of Health and Human Services appears to have removed resources for LGBTQ youths from its suicide prevention webpage.

On Feb. 1, the webpage included a subhead for the Trevor Project, describing it as “the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning young people under 25.” The section provided the organization’s website, phone number and text line.

A few days later, on Feb. 5, the section was gone. Of the four suicide prevention phone or text lines, only The Trevor Project was removed.

Now, there are three crisis lines listed: the Suicide Prevention Lifeline, the Veterans Crisis Line and the Crisis Text line. The Trevor Project’s phone number is still included in a PDF of resources under “Parent and Youth Suicide Prevention” as it was previously, but it isn’t as easily accessible as the section that was removed was, and doesn’t state that The Trevor Project is an LGBTQ-specific organization.

The Health and Human Services Department has not returned a request for comment.

Sam Ames, director of advocacy and government affairs at The Trevor Project, said mental health is not a partisan issue, and removing suicide prevention resources from a government website “because they are specific to LGBTQ youth is not only offensive and wrong, it’s dangerous.”
Thoughts?

I don’t know about y’all, but I would’ve kicked Texas off the island by now.
 
Chadlad50 said:
I have been questioning my sexual orientation for about a year at this point and I honestly feel hopeless about it. Why is it so confusing?
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the best part is you don't need to slap a label on it

if you're too stuck on selecting a label/identity/orientation for yourself, you could be invalidating the process as a whole! you may think yourself hetero one day and then gay the next, only to eventually realize you're bisexual, or maybe you're attracted to certain features that pop up on both sexes, like a cute nose. who knows!!

self-identity is often a lifelong journey... not because people never learn who they are, but i think we refine our own definitions of self over time. most importantly, you never stop being you, so even if you can't find a [label] that fits, maybe you'll find satisfaction in just being [You] for now while you're still figuring it out :)
 
spriteplayspokemon said:
I didn't know I wasn't trans until puberty, and I know many others feel the same way. By blocking the natural biological process of puberty, couldn't that be considered manipulating a child into being transgender?
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Where do you get the idea that puberty blockers are being given to children who do not actively ask for them and not after very careful consideration by healthcare professionals?
 
willempju said:
Where do you get the idea that puberty blockers are being given to children who do not actively ask for them and not after very careful consideration by healthcare professionals?
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i think the main issue is that some people think children shouldn't be making medical decisions that will alter their body's natural development process, and i count myself amongst those people! however, this feeling is not justified by anything to do with the morality of bodily autonomy, but wariness of manipulating anybody's natural progression of development by something as impactful as hormone therapy at a time when the body is already flooded with hormone cascades related to puberty, or whatever else may be happening in that particular person's body at that point in time.

the best a parent can do is be open and receptive to their children and their children's choice of self expression, especially when expressing their needs. i don't think it's ever a casual task of deciding to pursue hormone therapy, especially when it's being pursued with positive parental consent. i think children receiving hormone therapy is only bad if they aren't actively requesting it themselves, as the morality of their desire beats the morality of whether or not they're allowed to have that desire.
 
ABDC683E-D379-4200-84F5-A48719F014ED.jpeg


basically yeah, ill add more maybe tmmrw after class but its late so gn
 
Fishy said:
the best part is you don't need to slap a label on it

if you're too stuck on selecting a label/identity/orientation for yourself, you could be invalidating the process as a whole! you may think yourself hetero one day and then gay the next, only to eventually realize you're bisexual, or maybe you're attracted to certain features that pop up on both sexes, like a cute nose. who knows!!

self-identity is often a lifelong journey... not because people never learn who they are, but i think we refine our own definitions of self over time. most importantly, you never stop being you, so even if you can't find a [label] that fits, maybe you'll find satisfaction in just being [You] for now while you're still figuring it out :)
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Chadlad50 said:
I have been questioning my sexual orientation for about a year at this point and I honestly feel hopeless about it. Why is it so confusing?
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I just want to add how there’s something revelatory and freeing about learning all the possible identities and labels that don’t fit so you can get closer to finding a language that does fit. It’s often most important to develop this language for yourself. This language doesn’t have to entail explicit labels; it can instead comprise the way you communicate with other Queer people, how you like to be addressed by friends and family, the media that you consume and perhaps create, etc. etc. the list is endless.
adem said:
View attachment 414288

basically yeah, ill add more maybe tmmrw after class but its late so gn
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Congrats!!!

No bi-erasure in this thread, we swear :pimp:
 
how do i tell my parents im trans? 14 yr woman, amab. i know they would accept me, and i know it would be easier to get this off my chest, but i just can't! can't without sounding like an awkward mess, that is... and even though they would accept me, part of me feels like they would think of me differently, no matter what they would tell me. anyone have advice here?
 
NaboGaming said:
how do i tell my parents im trans? 14 yr woman, amab. i know they would accept me, and i know it would be easier to get this off my chest, but i just can't! can't without sounding like an awkward mess, that is... and even though they would accept me, part of me feels like they would think of me differently, no matter what they would tell me. anyone have advice here?
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whether you're their daughter or their son, your parents will (and should!!) love their child regardless! your parents might think of you differently, but only in the sense that you've shared something new with them about yourself. they could change their perception of you if you informed them you were suddenly a different religion, a vegetarian, who knows—your journey of self is yours, and they should be supporting you all along the way!

i'm not sure anyone can accurately telegraph how your parents might react, but i think it's important to believe that they do indeed love you, as i'm sure they do!! and so they'll accept your journey as you share it with them.

more than anything parents don't want anything to harm their children, and i think often times negative reactions surrounding a trans/gay coming out scenario are rooted in basic fight or flight to something we do not recognize or haven't already learned how to handle, so rejection ensues. i can't promise your parents will understand your emotions right away, but i can guarantee that they will TRY their damndest because their love for you is not dictated by your gender.

whatever you decide, i wish you the bubbliest luck i can muster :woo:
 
Fishy said:
whether you're their daughter or their son, your parents will (and should!!) love their child regardless! your parents might think of you differently, but only in the sense that you've shared something new with them about yourself. they could change their perception of you if you informed them you were suddenly a different religion, a vegetarian, who knows—your journey of self is yours, and they should be supporting you all along the way!

i'm not sure anyone can accurately telegraph how your parents might react, but i think it's important to believe that they do indeed love you, as i'm sure they do!! and so they'll accept your journey as you share it with them.

more than anything parents don't want anything to harm their children, and i think often times negative reactions surrounding a trans/gay coming out scenario are rooted in basic fight or flight to something we do not recognize or haven't already learned how to handle, so rejection ensues. i can't promise your parents will understand your emotions right away, but i can guarantee that they will TRY their damndest because their love for you is not dictated by your gender.

whatever you decide, i wish you the bubbliest luck i can muster :woo:
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omg, thank you so much, you did not have to write something that long for me qwq
how do i phrase it, though? like, what do i say to them that wont sound dumb other than "hi mommy and daddy (yes i call them that lol) im trans"
 
NaboGaming said:
omg, thank you so much, you did not have to write something that long for me qwq
how do i phrase it, though? like, what do i say to them that wont sound dumb other than "hi mommy and daddy (yes i call them that lol) im trans"
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it sounds like you're all a tight knit bunch, which is lovely

how you bring it up is up to you! you could sit them down and take it seriously, you could mention it in passing like "did you know you have a daughter?" and they'll be like "wtf?" and you can be like "yeah... i discovered her [some time] ago. it's me!" and go from there.

honestly i think stuff like this is best to toss out in the open and face it head on (IF you feel safe doing so), like dumping a load of dirty laundry in the living room. it doesn't hurt anyone, it's sort of silly, and you've framed the "problem" in such a way that you have to handle it now. cuz, it would be ridiculous to leave dirty laundry in the living room, further ridiculous to take the pile BACK to your room vs just taking care of it then and there!

you got this!!!
 
Fishy said:
it sounds like you're all a tight knit bunch, which is lovely

how you bring it up is up to you! you could sit them down and take it seriously, you could mention it in passing like "did you know you have a daughter?" and they'll be like "wtf?" and you can be like "yeah... i discovered her [some time] ago. it's me!" and go from there.

honestly i think stuff like this is best to toss out in the open and face it head on (IF you feel safe doing so), like dumping a load of dirty laundry in the living room. it doesn't hurt anyone, it's sort of silly, and you've framed the "problem" in such a way that you have to handle it now. cuz, it would be ridiculous to leave dirty laundry in the living room, further ridiculous to take the pile BACK to your room vs just taking care of it then and there!

you got this!!!
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thank you so much, i would love to be friends with you! do you have steam? :3
 
hello this is the first post of my account since its "official" revival, so yeah time to introduce myself

hi I'm dot Comfey and I'm a trans girl. I have been identifying this way for three months now.
to me I felt unlucky being born as a dude, and the thought of being a girl is really great. my parents are supportive of my decision.
big thanks to berryalcremie for being a great friend who helped me figure myself out! and thanks to everyone else who has accepted my identity.
 
I've figured out that I've probably got OCD and that's why sexuality is so confusing, and why all of the questioning has gotten me nowhere

I'll probably need therapy if I want to make it better, so that's fun

I've atleast come to the conclusion it's likely I'm Bi with sexual orientation OCD, not straight with HOCD. Doesn't mean I'll label myself anything or feel confident in it, but hey, it's something
 
NaboGaming said:
omg, thank you so much, you did not have to write something that long for me qwq
how do i phrase it, though? like, what do i say to them that wont sound dumb other than "hi mommy and daddy (yes i call them that lol) im trans"
Click to expand...
Fishy said:
it sounds like you're all a tight knit bunch, which is lovely

how you bring it up is up to you! you could sit them down and take it seriously, you could mention it in passing like "did you know you have a daughter?" and they'll be like "wtf?" and you can be like "yeah... i discovered her [some time] ago. it's me!" and go from there.

honestly i think stuff like this is best to toss out in the open and face it head on (IF you feel safe doing so), like dumping a load of dirty laundry in the living room. it doesn't hurt anyone, it's sort of silly, and you've framed the "problem" in such a way that you have to handle it now. cuz, it would be ridiculous to leave dirty laundry in the living room, further ridiculous to take the pile BACK to your room vs just taking care of it then and there!

you got this!!!
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Just wanted to add I agree facing it head-on, especially if you think you’ll be supported outright, is better, because then it can be an ongoing process and while you continue to learn and unlearn things about yourself, you’ll have your fam in your corner the whole time. Whether you want to dramatize the moment, or just be forthright at the dinner table one night, just don’t put too much pressure on yourself to “do it right.”

Coming out is not the most important, impressive, or difficult thing you’ll ever do; living fully as yourself is.

Kaede said:
View attachment 415326
almost a year of being nb and its probably one of the very few decisions in my life I don't regret
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Here’s to a hell of a year! If you‘re comfortable sharing, how have you felt more empowered by your identity in the last year?

iamnotterrible said:
hello this is the first post of my account since its "official" revival, so yeah time to introduce myself

hi I'm dot Comfey and I'm a trans girl. I have been identifying this way for three months now.
to me I felt unlucky being born as a dude, and the thought of being a girl is really great. my parents are supportive of my decision.
big thanks to berryalcremie for being a great friend who helped me figure myself out! and thanks to everyone else who has accepted my identity.
Click to expand...
Chadlad50 said:
I've figured out that I've probably got OCD and that's why sexuality is so confusing, and why all of the questioning has gotten me nowhere

I'll probably need therapy if I want to make it better, so that's fun

I've atleast come to the conclusion it's likely I'm Bi with sexual orientation OCD, not straight with HOCD. Doesn't mean I'll label myself anything or feel confident in it, but hey, it's something
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Whatever these new realizations mean for y’all, proud of you for getting there!

It can be really difficult trying to function in a white cisgender heteronormative world with ill-defined labels, categories, and stratifications, especially since the term “transgender” wasn’t even apart of popular lexicon longer than 27 years ago. Bisexuality, too, has only recently stopped being such the butt of every punchline that people are taking it seriously enough to let people explore it as a valid sexual identity. Patience and grace are the key here.
 
ok, ok! so... i'm confused.
i think i'm non binary. idk, i just feel like... sometimes i feel more ?feminine? if that makes sense? idk, i just don't feel too comfortable yet to explain it and also idk how to explain it yet? lol
now, the thing i'm really confused about is... am i bissexual? if so, can i be demissexual too? and if so, can i be demissexual only when it comes to girls?LOL
idk how to explain, I just feel physically attracted to men most of the time but sometimes (shiny pokémon odds) i'll be attracted to a girl, but that mostly doesn't happen because of their physical attributes like it usually happens when i like a guy, i just feel attracted to their personality and things i have in common with them and... idk, it just makes them feel... special? and i'll start actually feeling real attraction afterwards? idk
can someone pls explain this to me LOL i'm rly confused :smogduck: i'm almost opening a "what's my sexuality" poll-----
 
Catalisador said:
ok, ok! so... i'm confused.
i think i'm non binary. idk, i just feel like... sometimes i feel more ?feminine? if that makes sense? idk, i just don't feel too comfortable yet to explain it and also idk how to explain it yet? lol
now, the thing i'm really confused about is... am i bissexual? if so, can i be demissexual too? and if so, can i be demissexual only when it comes to girls?LOL
idk how to explain, I just feel physically attracted to men most of the time but sometimes (shiny pokémon odds) i'll be attracted to a girl, but that mostly doesn't happen because of their physical attributes like it usually happens when i like a guy, i just feel attracted to their personality and things i have in common with them and... idk, it just makes them feel... special? and i'll start actually feeling real attraction afterwards? idk
can someone pls explain this to me LOL i'm rly confused :smogduck: i'm almost opening a "what's my sexuality" poll-----
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from the looks of this you might find the label demigirl to fit you which is basically having feminine traits somethings but other times feeling like having no defined gender.
and on the sexuality thing... yeah i have no clue
 
adapted from some poetry i heard recently, probably garbage but posting anyway may be slightly... dark lol:


It takes hard work to shine.

This world is a dark place, I know you all know how dark it can be. When you see someone shining all the time, understand that it's really hard to shine all the time...

You can't stay in the world's darkness, the darkness will always try to steal your light. Sometime you must find a way to come back to light.

If immaterial light were weak in its essence, then its need would not be for a dark dead substance. How could the insufficient darkness benefit the complete light?

If a light is needy or weak in its occurrence, then there must be for it a supporting light. And an ordering of supporting lights will not go on and on, there must be an end to the supporting lights. Their accidents are directed towards a light beyond which is no further light.

Can you touch the light inside you?

No one reaches a dream alone. To reach for a dream, to even have a dream, is a gift to bring light to this dark world. Those dreamers are a gift, dreaming their selves into the world that would extinguish them.
 
Catalisador said:
ok, ok! so... i'm confused.
i think i'm non binary. idk, i just feel like... sometimes i feel more ?feminine? if that makes sense? idk, i just don't feel too comfortable yet to explain it and also idk how to explain it yet? lol
now, the thing i'm really confused about is... am i bissexual? if so, can i be demissexual too? and if so, can i be demissexual only when it comes to girls?LOL
idk how to explain, I just feel physically attracted to men most of the time but sometimes (shiny pokémon odds) i'll be attracted to a girl, but that mostly doesn't happen because of their physical attributes like it usually happens when i like a guy, i just feel attracted to their personality and things i have in common with them and... idk, it just makes them feel... special? and i'll start actually feeling real attraction afterwards? idk
can someone pls explain this to me LOL i'm rly confused :smogduck: i'm almost opening a "what's my sexuality" poll-----
Click to expand...

my bisexuality made a lot more sense when i realized that my brain feels different when i am considering my attraction to men vs my attraction to women. the EASIEST way i can describe it is that i love men making me feel like a princess but then that's exactly how i want to make women feel if i'm attracted to them. even simpler, in my mind, i like pursuing women as if i am playing a man's role but otherwise i like being the woman pursued by a man.

i consider myself gender fluid in this sense since i "feel like a man" in my type of attraction to women, but ultimately i'm a lady who loves men & women BUT who also is convinced she trades brains with a man when she sees a hot lady.
 
Catalisador said:
idk how to explain, I just feel physically attracted to men most of the time but sometimes (shiny pokémon odds) i'll be attracted to a girl, but that mostly doesn't happen because of their physical attributes like it usually happens when i like a guy, i just feel attracted to their personality and things i have in common with them and... idk, it just makes them feel... special? and i'll start actually feeling real attraction afterwards? idk
can someone pls explain this to me LOL i'm rly confused :smogduck: i'm almost opening a "what's my sexuality" poll-----
Click to expand...
I think you should ask yourself this: are you attracted to these particular women or do you find them attractive? Because you do not have to identify a certain way if it's the latter. However, if the former applies to you, then perhaps you are bisexual with a preference for men. I'm not sure what you mean by "i'll be attracted to a girl, but that mostly doesn't happen because of their physical attributes," but I will assume you mean you are not really sexually attracted to women, and rather have the capacity only for a romantic attraction to them. I would honestly stay away from using the SAM (split-attraction model, which is the separation of romantic and sexual attraction when considering overall attraction) to help you figure out your identity regardless as its roots lie in homophobia and in most cases people who fall into the SAM trap do so instead of unpacking their potential internalized homophobia.

Further, let's say you figured out you're bisexual and met a girl who you then later ended up dating; could you see yourself being fully immersed in that relationship? Would you be able to fall in love with one, and perhaps even cohabitate together in the distant future? Would you be able to unpack the physical repulsion to women and internalized homophobia to achieve that? If you don't think so, that's totally fine! But knowing that, you may not be bisexual.

I'm a lesbian and damn proud of it, but my ability to feel sure and proud of my identity hasn't always been clear. The nature of compulsory heterosexuality instills the thought that it's wrong to feel attraction to the same gender, and sometimes even makes us repulsed by the thought. Indeed, I was in the same boat. I knew I was never straight, but I thought I had the capacity for attraction to men, and for the longest time identified as bisexual because of that. It wasn't until two years ago that I finally cemented my identity as a lesbian, and let me tell you: it took a long time to figure that out and of course included countless life experiences that slowly unpacked my aversion to women and de-centering of men from my sexuality.

Of course, you don't need to have it figured out right now, so don't feel in such a rush to adhere to a label. It takes lived experiences to figuring yourself out, so give yourself the opportunity to do that as opposed to forcing yourself to get it right. Though it doesn't sound like you are a lesbian, I would look into reading the"Am I a Lesbian" master doc, particularly the section regarding compulsory heteronormativity. The questions regard attraction to men, but I would ask yourself the same questions in the context of your potential attraction to women. Use your answers to those interrogatories to investigate your sexuality accordingly. It may be clear afterward, or ultimately it may not be, but go into it knowing it will be an ongoing battle. I wish you the best of luck in figuring yourself out and if you have any questions, feel free to reach out. Not to brag, but I'm bit of a lady extraordinaire myself. :pimp:
 
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