Elders find “chosen family” at LGBTQ+ affirming senior center
Four seniors laughed around a cafeteria table, a mid-day ritual at one of Los Angeles’ few LGBTQ+ centered elder housing facilities. Jo Sun and Luis Zapata and two old friends…
How this culturally inclusive organization creates family for LGBTQ+ Latinos
When Daniel Gonzalez came to Los Angeles from Mexico, the challenges of being a gay man in a new country caused him to feel isolated, depressed and anxious. He found…
Reclaiming Junior High
Imagine a junior high, where you are free to be your true self. A junior high where you can have hard conversations that are met with support, instead of judgment.…
First person: Finding queer joy in Philly
Walking through Philadelphia on Labor Day As a first-time visitor to Philadelphia, I envisioned the Gayborhood as a vibrant community dedicated to the celebration of LGBTQ+ individuals. Yet, the neighborhood,…
The queer kids are all right: acceptance in Chicago’s DIY scene
Coming off the high of a one-night music festival hosted by my college radio station, I was itching to immerse myself in another city’s DIY scene. I assumed that a…
‘Existing without question’: The evolution of gender inclusion in Chicago roller derby
When Sara Kaiser, a trans woman, saw her first derby game over a decade ago, she started crying. “I was just bawling because I didn’t have the right parts to…
How a trans librarian in Chicago helps caregivers support their LGBTQ+ children
Clear backpacks lean against one another in a fallen domino formation. Inside each of the bags is a collection of curated books. Hallothon Patnott pulls out a large children’s book.…
Literary justice: Chicago-based nonprofit pairs up with local bookstore to bring books to women and trans people in prison
Vicki White remembers a letter she once received from an incarcerated woman asking for help. “She needed glasses, but she had to pay for them herself and couldn’t afford them,”…