THE EMPATHY PROJECT

Changing the hearts and minds of others. Understanding and documenting struggle, pain, harm, and success from those who experience it. LGBTQ* folks: Submit your stories of success and stories of struggle here on our page or to [email protected]! We will re-post them here as a way of increasing empathic understanding about our community!

[klxud-deactivated20210818]

The puppy one is my favorite

[transsource]

For Zella Ziona, Diana Sacayán, Rafaela Capucci, Melvin, Kiesha Jenkins, Chocobar Marcela, Keyshia Blige, Jasmine Collins, Tamara Dominguez, Elisha Walker, Kandis Capri, Ashton O'Hara, Shade Schuler, Amber Monroe, KC Haggard, Nephi Luthers, India Clarke, Daya Rani Kinnar, Mercedes Williamson, Laura Vermont, Francela Méndez Rodríguez, London Chanel, Yosvani Muñoz Robaina, Almaroof Bijli, Saima Shahzadi, Shah Zaib and Billi, Vanessa Santillan, Kristina Grant Infiniti, Sumaya Dalmar, Bri Golec, Piu da Silva, Penny Proud, Taja DeJesus, Marisol Almeida, Yazmin Vash Payne, Papi Edwards, Hande Ö, Lamia Beard, Ty Underwood, Gizzy Fowler, Deshawnda Sanchez, Keymori Shatoya Johnson and many others.

[lgbtempathy]

Brené Brown's analysis on race in our culture can undoubtedly be applied to the negative treatment of people based on their sexuality and gender identity. "Until we find a way to own our collective stories around racism [edit: and sexuality and gender] in this country, our history and the stories of pain will own us... We need to own a million heartbreaking stories of discrimination and prejudice, and make millions of changes, and hold space for a million tough conversations. But, if each one of us owns one story and makes one change and has one honest conversation where we listen more than defend or offer false comfort – we can do this. There is a way to write a brave new ending to one of the most painful stories in our history. What remains to be seen is if we have the will and courage." #empathy #EmpathyProject #lgbt #sexuality #gender #gay #lesbian #bisexual #transgender #pan #queer #risingstrong #BreneBrown #Shame #vulnerability #change

[lgbtempathy]

How do I come out to my family? I'm terrified. I'm bi. I mean my family took quite well to my aunt and cousin being gay. But, when my cousin came out as bi, there was a lot of "it's just a phase, there's no such thing, blah blah." Like do I just say "I would totally be okay with marrying/being with a boy or a girl. As long as I love them, that's all that matters to me."

Hi there!Ultimately, the way you come out is your choice. I think in many ways we try to find "the way" to come out. I know a lot of people who have chosen not to "come out" at all. They have simply started dating someone they liked and have made it a non-issue. I do recognize, though, how important it is to a lot of people to explain to family and friends where they are at. You can decide which way works best for you and your circumstances! :)To be honest, I'm not sure how comfortable I am telling people how to come out. This is mainly because you know your family/friends best. What I will say is that you can tailor your process to who might or might not be receptive. Perhaps you could try coming out to the person that would be most supportive and then work with that person/those people to come out to someone that may be a little more resistant. In my experience, I found talking to a close friend, before talking to my family, provided me a lot of comfort in the process. In any case, try and not take things personally as it will sometimes be a learning experience for people you come out to. Being patient and understanding of their struggles will show them that you can be patient with them - so hopefully they can be patient with you. It sounds like this is not your family's first experience with coming out. In this regard, you may find it helpful to highlight the education on bisexuality - either through an article online or a documentary or something. Hope this helped! If you want to chat some more, please feel free to message back. :)XO 💛 EP

[flintch]

when i’m feeling down i like to remember that my existence makes narrow-minded cishet people uncomfortable and then i feel better again

[queercuts]

kiss-me-alive, Hannah/Connor. Come chat with me, I love meeting people

[limitlessafricans]

Wiilo: Queer Somali Canadian American

“Wiilo Geedi. Wiilo in Somali means girls who dresses like boy. It’s a nickname that I was given  by my elders when I was younger. It’s something that has always comforted me when I was going through my process of discovering my queerness and helped me to overcome the shame and the feeling of being pushed away from my culture. 

Like everything about myself my country of origin is complicated. I was born in Washington, DC while my parents were on vacation. We returned to Somalia but my family emigrated from Somalia because of civil war and I grew up in suburbs outside Toronto, Canada.

They/Them

Queer ”

- Wiilo (Queer Somali Canadian American, They/Them, IG/Twitter: @pocstudios)

About Limit(less): Limit(less) is a photography project by Mikael Owunna (@owning-my-truth) documenting the visual aesthetics and expression of LGBTQ African Immigrants (1st and 2nd generation) in diaspora. As LGBTQ Africans, we are constantly told that being LGBTQ is somehow “un-African,” and this rhetoric is a regular part of homophobic and transphobic discourse in African communities. This line of thinking, however, is patently false and exists an artifact of colonization of the African continent. Identities which would now be categorized as “LGBTQ” have always existed, and being LGBTQ does not make us “less” African.

Limit(less) explores how LGBTQ African immigrants navigate their identities and find ways to overcome the supposed “tension” between their LGBTQ and African identities through their visual aesthetics and expression. The project seeks to visually deconstruct the colonial binary that has been set up between LGBTQ and African identities, which erases the lives and experiences of LGBTQ Africans.  #LimitlessAfricans

Follow Limit(less):

Facebook | Tumblr  | Website | Flickr | Instagram

[dearcispeople]

The best way to avoid misgendering strangers is to use neutral pronouns(they/them) until you know what they use, the same way you would if someone mentioned "a friend" to you sans gender cues (eg. "What's their name?"). A lot of people don't think about this or even realize they're doing it, but it's been in common use for a long time and is generally your best bet.

[dearcispeople]

Dear Cis People:

Okay why can no one seem to remember my pronouns? Do I have to shout it from the rooftops? THEY/THEM PLEASE AND THANK YOU (if your cis and you mess up just say sorry, correct you self and move on thanks)

[autostraddle]

My sexuality is not a phase. I am who I am.

Cara Delevingne’s Bisexuality “Isn’t A Phase” No Matter What That Dude at Vogue Wrote About It (via autostraddle)

[sapphicseekingsapphic]

I’d just like to say thank you so much for bringing me and my partner together 2 years ago! I seen her submission on here and messaged her right away, she lives in Northern Ireland and I live in the Republic, a 5 hour, 2 train journey away but we spend weeks together and only a short few weeks apart if even. We both wear a bracelet everyday that says the day we got together officially on October 15th 2013. If it wasn’t for the people who run this blog I would’ve never met her and she is the love of my life and always will be. She’s the best thing to ever happen to me and we’ve saved each others lives basically. In 3 months we’ll be celebrating our 2 year anniversary and I couldn’t be happier. Thank you for introducing me to the most perfect woman on this planet for me and making my life complete. I could never thank you enough and I’ll never believe how lucky I am.

- Rayanne & Eimear

[believestagram]

by realquotesssss

[always-lose-deactivated20200125]

[lgbtempathy]

[gaywrites]

Dolezal’s delusion and commitment to living as a black woman is profound. And it’s inherently wrong. The implications of a white woman, donning blackness and then using that blackness in order to navigate black spaces is offensive. Her passing flies in the face of the countless black women who have had to pass as white in the history of this country, not because of a preference for or fetishization of whiteness, but purely out of survival. And comparing her life to Caitlyn Jenner’s is an insult to Jenner’s personal struggle. ‘I’m not doing this to be interesting. I’m doing this to live,’ she told Vanity Fair. Dolezal is not trying to survive. She’s merely indulging in the fantasy of being 'other.’

Why Comparing Rachel Dolezal To Caitlyn Jenner Is Detrimental To Both Trans And Racial Progress | Zeba Blay for the Huffington Post (via gaywrites)

[oonachaplinsarchive-deactivated]

“biphobia isn’t real”

yeah sorry I couldn’t hear you over the hour long rant my friends mom once delivered about how she really supported gay rights but couldn’t stand bi people while i sat in the backseat of her car nearly in tears because the parent of someone I loved was throwing hate speech at me.

yeah I can’t hear you over the minimal representation  I receive in television which is usually just a sassy assistant making a remark about her “lesbian phase” and how in one of the most progressive queer shows that’s ever received critical acclaim the words ‘bi or pan’ are never used once.

yeah I can’t hear you over my ex calling me a slut after finding out I was bi and saying all I am is an indecisive whore.

i can’t fucking hear you over mono queer people mocking me and jeering at my desire for representation, calling me ‘not queer enough’, and ‘laughing hollowly’ over my attempts to explain my struggles as a bisexual woman.

yeah im sorry i can’t hear you over my friends long rant about how she didn’t think she could keep dating her bi boyfriend because he would probably cheat on her, and her eye rolls when i told her what she was saying was offensive.

sorry i couldn’t hear you over how fucking wrong and ignorant you are.

[helpimtrappedontheinternet-deac]

#sorry can’t hear you over the constant interrogation of my sexual history

[inkantlers]

My lesbian aunt is moving to my hometown and I was telling my mom about how I’m gonna hangout with her and stuff and my mom looked upset and she was like “We need to have a talk.” and we sat down and she said “Your aunt lives a certain lifestyle that I don’t want you to adapt from her” and I was internally screaming but then she finished with “so whatever you do don’t let her talk you into smoking pot” i’m crying my aunt is 52

[imlexyandiknowit]

I hope I am that aunt.