First Person Archives

first person

How I Learned To Touch Again After Trauma

I thought I had to choose between being a survivor and being sensual.

Titeänyä Rodríguez

Oct 17, 2025

Two Black women are surrounded by a map, two flip phones, and greenery

first person

The Numbers in My Phone

I tried for a long time not to have a smart phone.

sheena d.

—

Feb 17, 2022

A white person with light skin and long brown hair wears a black blazer and is conducting, with their arms in motion.

first person

The Double Lives of Queer Church Musicians

Many of my colleagues and I have left church music leadership entirely.

Cat Dean

—

Feb 15, 2022

Beautiful bright green caterpillar nestled in a purple flower

first person

Caterpillar Soup: A Trans Girl Finds Her Style

Emme Lund writes about butterflies, fashion, and finding her own sense of style while she moves through her transition.

Emme Lund

—

Feb 15, 2022

A pink building stands against a starless night sky with a full moon, and hands reach out. A handwritten note reads "No stars in a city means no room for wishes."

first person

It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere

You can’t see the stars in the city I live in, so I would spend my nights out on my balcony, drinking, letting my eyesight go slack and drift into…

danijanae

—

Feb 10, 2022

three images of CJ Kitten Miller, the author: in two she wears a long purple tulle skirt and is dancing in a studio alone, in the third she is dressed like Jem and the Holograms and playing a concert

first person

On Gender Fabrication and Femme Embodiment

There are so many things I may reach for to explain how I know I am a femme or an intersex non-binary woman but these words and concepts themselves are…

CJ Kitten Miller

—

Jan 28, 2022

The words "You are going to be fine" written on a garage style door that is painted a soft pink.

first person

I Used Instagram Mantras As Therapy — And It Worked

They served as daily messages your best friend should tell you when you’re hurting — and in desperate need of a silver lining.

Christina Anthony

—

Jan 26, 2022

A person with brown skin types on a typewriter.

first person

As a Black, Fat, Disabled Person in Love, My Monogamy Feels Radical

For me, navigating polyamorous dynamics with white people is inherently taxing and painful as a Black person.

Teighlor McGee

—

Jan 25, 2022

A collage of the cover for Casey Plett's A Dream Of A Woman

first person

Slow Takes: Casey Plett’s “A Dream of a Woman” and Forgiveness as a Love Story

Often I find myself pushing so hard against the image of trans loneliness that I don’t allow myself to acknowledge the truths that lie within. This book acknowledged them for…

Drew Burnett Gregory

—

Jan 6, 2022

Become a Member

Become a Member to support queer journalism

What You Get:

EXCLUSIVE AF+ CONTENT

AD-FREE READING EXPERIENCE

PRINT MAGAZINE DELIVERED FREE

LEARN MORE

Become a Member

Become a Member to support queer journalism

EXCLUSIVE AF+ CONTENT

AD-FREE READING EXPERIENCE

PRINT MAGAZINE DELIVERED FREE

LEARN MORE

Don’t want to see ads? Join AF+

Account

About

First Person

How I Learned To Touch Again After Trauma

The Numbers in My Phone

The Double Lives of Queer Church Musicians

Caterpillar Soup: A Trans Girl Finds Her Style

It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere

On Gender Fabrication and Femme Embodiment

I Used Instagram Mantras As Therapy — And It Worked

As a Black, Fat, Disabled Person in Love, My Monogamy Feels Radical

Slow Takes: Casey Plett’s “A Dream of a Woman” and Forgiveness as a Love Story

Become a Member

What You Get:

Become a Member

Account Account

First Person

Become a Member

What You Get:

Become a Member

Account