#questioning positivity

[seven-oomen]

I love conversations about gender.

I work for a trans youth chatline. And we get so many questioning kids on our line. And let me tell you, they are my favorite conversations to have.

I never tell the kids or young adult; you're trans.

I never push them, I never demand an answer.

Coming out is their choice, always.

I just ask questions. I don't judge. No matter how someone words their concerns. That's not my place.

My place is to listen, to empathize. To provide a safe space for these kids to question themselves. Their identities, their sexualities.

And I always say; it's okay to get it wrong.

It's okay to not know.

It's okay if you figure it out 10, 20, 30 years from now.

Identity is so hard.

It fluctuates.

There's no binary to this. No rules that we haven't made up ourselves.

And to see these kids relax and just ask and be?

That makes my whole week.

That is what I do this for.

So to any questioning kids/teens out there. It's okay. You'll find yourself in time.

[nonbinarymlm]

It’s okay for LGBTQ+ identities to come in phases and change over time

It’s okay for LGBTQ+ people to be mistaken about their identity and discover later they’re actually a different identity

It’s okay for LGBTQ+ people to be questioning or confused, including for long periods of time 

This is all part of being human. It’s okay. It’s not wrong. You still deserve respect and autonomy over your identity. You do not deserve bigotry or condescension. 

[genderqueerpositivity]

(ID: a nine image photoset with a questioning flag in the center and eight images of purple, pink, and orange flowers around it)

[vampire-artemis]

happy pride to everyone who’s questioning and/or don’t have a specific label to call themselves. You don’t need it if you don’t want to, and don’t pressure yourselves to find one. You’re you no matter what 💜

[queerpride]

I’m extremely happy for lesbians who used to identify as bi! I hope you’re comfortable in your own skin now that you feel free enough to wear a label that fits you better.

you know what else? I’m really proud of bi people who used to identify as lesbians. we’re happy to welcome you into our letter 💜

and while we’re at it--bi people who also use the pan, ply, omni, gay, and/or lesbian labels are incredibly brave. I want you to know that you deserve to feel safe in our community, no matter what.

[lesbianb]

it’s never too late to accept yourself as lgbt, to seek a happy and affirming life for yourself, whatever that looks like for you.  even if you didn’t always know, even if you don’t think you “showed signs”, are still new to learning terminology and history, etc, it’s alright. you can be yourself, and plenty of people will love you just as you are. <3

[lgbt-advice-and-help]

Hi!! You can ignore this if you want, it's OK.:) I was just looking for blogs on tumblr that help / advise LGBT people. (don't you know any please?) and I noticed your profile. Can i tell you something? I am desperate :(i'm a girl. I thought I was straight. I've always liked boys. But .. sometimes I ... like actresses. I've always said myself that this doesn't mean I'm bi, that's normal. I just think they're pretty. But .. it has happened to me a few times that .. well, for example, I have one classmate (she is 100% straight) and .. I don't know if I like her, probably yes? I could imagine kissing her, maybe others things, but sex itself probably not? I'm confused. I also tried to do orientation tests and it turned out that I was straight. But it is written somewhere that when somebody takes tests for orientation, he/she is probably not straight. I know I should know this by myself, whether I'm straight or not, .. I'm really confused. please would you help me ?? thank you very much. have a nice day and i hope i don't bother you!

I'm so sorry it's taken such a long time to answer this!

I wanna start off by saying that any label you end up choosing to use for yourself is ok, it's also ok if you find that it's not the right label for yourself because for a lot of people (myself included) it's been a long journey to find label(s) I'm comfortable with and feel they describe me.

The most important thing isn't the label itself but how you feel and what makes you comfortable, labels give some people comfort but it doesn't mean everyone uses labels for themselves. There isn't a right answer I can give you because it's something you're gonna have to find out for yourself and the first step to discovering what works for you is going through your thoughts with a peer, listening to how other people feel will be of much more help than reading one version that only works for some. I really hope you find a safe space to explore those thoughts and feelings and I wish you the best of luck!

Love, mod Autumn