trimalkin

This article was written for Ace Week for Alberta Aces and Aros who are featuring stories about our experience living as an ace-spec in an allo world from our community members. I wasn't able to stick to the 200 word limit so I put it all together here so it can be linked to and shared. I’m Michelle (she/they), a bilingual (English and French), ÂûDHD, melanin-deficient woman queer (greysexual panromantic sapphic) cis woman. I was born in Calgary and also lived in Québec where I completed my B.Ed. in French and a diploma in horticulture. My coming out story is on my blog and in the Queer in Alberta Storyhive interview. How did I get here? It took me half a century to be exposed words and meaning that gave me the 'aha!' moment and let me know I'm not alone and I'm not broken. This is why I'm writing this. This is why education is so important. Without language to describe ourselves and find others like us, we may spend our whole lives believing we are the on

Yesterday was National Coming Out Day and here's what I shared with family, friends, and colleagues: Today is National Coming Out Day. (Well, at least it is in the US and so we will just have to appropriate it here in Canada until we catch up). I was an Ally previously as I stood in support of the LGBTQIA2S+ community and as a safe person to come out to. You are brave, you are inspiring and you matter. You are not alone. I now stand in solidarity with my worldwide rainbow family in support for those of us who repressed our knowing, kept the mask on for so long we suffocated, hid in plain sight for safety, and felt so painfully alone. Here's my coming out video made with the help of my friend Keith: I am not straight. I am here and queer. I like the term queer because it is an umbrella term that includes the rich diversity and intersectionality of the individual letters LGBTQIA2S+. I am still the same supportive friend, family, or hard working colleague you know. Surprised