personal essay Archives

makeup

personal essay

TransBlack and Beautiful: Acknowledging My Authentic Revolutionary

“One morning, while I was applying my new lighter makeup, I accidentally put too much banana powder on which created a shroud of ashy yellow veil all around the center…

L’lerrét Jazelle Ailith —

Mar 3, 2015

greatest hits

homophobia

first person

Gay, Interrupted: On Navigating Gaybourhoods As A Queer Brown Woman

Gay districts are safer, more open and more profitable than ever before, but for whom?

Fikri —

Feb 18, 2015

death is sad

family

first person

This Is A Dead Mom Essay

“Not being an asshole” to myself meant admitting that my mom’s death and her illness permeate every single part of my being, and always will.

Maddie —

Feb 12, 2015

education

personal essay

first person

See Jane Teach: How Sexism In the Classroom Hurts Both Teachers and Students

“When I’m worrying about how to teach without coming off as a bitch because I expect students to be quiet when I’m talking, I’m not thinking as much as I…

Rachel —

Feb 11, 2015

but i'm a cheerleader

personal essay

movie features

Noreen’s Got A Big Fat Lesbian Crush On Marcia Brady

How the Pathetic Lesbian trope managed to scare me straight while making me laugh.

Riese —

Jan 29, 2015

baby-making

gay families

parenting & family

Adventures in Baby Making as a Single Black Lesbian

So maybe my pregnancy path isn’t as simple and straightforward as baby books would have you believe it should be because I’m a poor QPoC with anxiety, but it has…

Asher_Jak —

Jan 28, 2015

christianity

evangelical christianity

first person

Seeking Queer Theology And Perfect Love That Casts Out Fear

If we don’t abundantly love each other, we can’t have an abundant relationship with God. I must embrace an interpretation of my faith that requires unconditional love for queer people…

Adrian —

Jan 27, 2015

personal essay

trans women

dating

The Things You Say

Was I so far from the idea of trans in her head, that there was no way I could be “one of them”? Or did she refuse to make the…

Niko —

Jan 8, 2015

lesbian history

personal essay

first person

Badass Blacksmiths: Women’s Work and Transgender Identity

People would look surprised and say, “But…you can’t be a girl. You’re a blacksmith!”

Willow Zietman —

Jan 7, 2015

eric garner

immigration

politics + activism

Burials in the Mist of Dawn

“But unlike the missing 43 from Ayotzinapa, I was going home. And it’s what I store in my memory each time I read an article or update about the disappeared.…

Mónica Teresa Ortiz —

Jan 5, 2015

personal essay

qpoc