Since it's pride month, I thought I'd share probably my favorite little queer joy moment I ever got to experience, so if you need some positivity in these dark times, have this little story from me :]
Quick context, I am a 25 year-old that lives in, sadly, a pretty conservative city of Germany, and I volunteer at a youth club once a week where I work with teens. Also, I am obviously queer myself. (pan, agender and ace)
Last year I wanted to go to my local pride parade, like I try to every year. I had already asked my usual group of people, but on a whim I decided to ask some of the teens at the youth club if they wanted to come, bc I know that even if they wanted to come, going by themselves could be a bit intimidating. To my delight two of them said yes, including one 16 year old I am gonna call T-Rex for this.
T-Rex had been coming to the club for about a year and half at that point, during which I got to know him a little bit and watched him come out of his shell alot, since he was pretty quiet at the start. He is a super sweet kid who always greets you with a smile, tells you about his day and even started volunteering to work with some of the younger kids himself.
Anyway, so the next day we meet up at the parade, me and my friends decked out with our pride flags and rainbow stuff, when T-Rex shyly asks if he can borrow one of my rainbow bracelets bc he was dressed in all black and wanted to "fit in". I, of course, told him that his outfit was totally fine and that him just being there was "fitting in" enough, but I did stil give him my bracelet for the day which he seemed to cherish.
So the parade starts, me and my friends obviously looking out for him and his friend the entire time to make sure they are save, with them having a good time, waving at the on-lookers and vibing to the music. At one point T-Rex even asked about the flag I was wearing (my agender flag) and was super sweet about it, even if he probably didn't fully get it (which is totally fair).
Sadly there were some n4zi's/right-wingers booing us along the route (luckily nothing more serious happened), after which T-Rex came up to me and said "I don't understand what their problem is. This [parade] is not hurting anyone! It's just people being themselves. Why are they so against it?" At that point my queer heart was already kind of melting bc yeah... I don't get it either T-Rex :(
After the parade we made sure he and his friend got home safe again and the next time we saw each other T-Rex told me that he had a lot of fun and thanked me for the invite.
Fast forward about half a year during another youth club meeting when T-Rex came up to me to say hi, like always, and than shyly asked if he could come along to the next pride parade and I of course said yes and assured him that I would tell him whenever I knew if/when the next one would be. After that he went quiet for a moment, before he told me that he had looked through some identities online to learn (which once again, UGH MY HEART. such a sweetie) and than tolded me about one that he really liked (bi-curious) and even showed me the flag. "It makes sense, I mean I don't know if I might like a boy if I haven't been with one yet, so...yeah." I was a little stunned for a second bc I didn't really expec this, but I tried my best to assure him and told him that I feel similiar since I am pan myself, before we sadly had to move on pretty quickly bc we had some other stuff to do.
Ever since that convo he has been alot more attentive when someone talks about queer people in any way and just carries himself a little different.
I definitely didn't realise it at the time, but that little conversation with me might have been the first time he said that out loud to someone else and I feel incredibly honoured that he felt save enough to tell me.
~~~
I hope you could share in my queer joy for a little moment and I want to wish everyone a happy pride, no matter if you are fully-out, closeted, questioning, just out to a few trusted people or an ally! You are all so valid, no matter what other people might say!
Also this is your sign to maybe look into volunteering somewhere if you are able! I have horrible social anxiety and low self esteem, but getting to see someone like T-Rex grow so much as a person and getting to play a tiny part in that makes it all worth it to me! Lots of love to everyone who does charity/volunteer work.