As a clinician passionate about working with the LGBTQIA+ community, I wanted to take a moment to say happy fucking coming out day! Sexuality and gender identity is something I have been passionate about for the last 13 years as a mental health provider. It started when I worked in the psychiatric hospital and had patient after patient who felt unheard and invalidated by their peers and parents for who they were attracted to or how they felt inside. I wanted to be that safe space for them to speak their truth. I was the advocate who spoke with parents about the importance of pronouns, who explained the difference between sexuality and gender identity, and the one who gave them a place to be themselves. I created a group called “The Pridelands” where I invited LGBTQIA+ youth to come and have a save space to process their feelings and experiences. Unfortunately, it didn’t get enough traction to take off. However, that did not limit the referrals I received for individual treatment from other providers and people of the community for individuals struggling to find support in this area of life.
Some of the coolest experiences I have had working with the community including being a part of someone’s gender affirming journey from start to finish. What started with weekly therapy to discuss hormone replacement therapy, morphed into vocal surgery, and in the end “bottom surgery” or gender affirming surgery. What a beautiful full circle moment to see someone blossom into the person they always knew they were. I have been a part of conversations with parents where their children came out to them and asked to be referred to has the opposite pronouns or in some cases a completely different name. While these conversations could be unpredictable, I was honored to be a part of something so big in their lives. This can be a grieving process for parents which I work very hard to process with them and their child so there is compassion and empathy versus anger and resentment. It’s a learning process for both sides.
I come from a school of thought where I truly do not believe their needs to be a big announcement regarding one’s sexual identity, however, if that is something important to you, I will stand next to you and scream it from the fucking rooftops with you! I just firmly believe people are allowed to love who they love without explanation as to why! Sexuality and gender identity continues to progress in our society while also still being grossly misunderstood. If I can help just ONE person feel confident in their identity, I feel fulfilled. And to be honest, at this point in my career, I have probably helped close to 50! I will forever be an ally and support for this community and if you are reading this and have yet to come out or are questioning, I see you, I hear you, and I fucking support you! Remember, you fucking got this!
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