Being part of the LGBTQ+ community has profoundly shaped who I am, particularly in fostering my non-judgemental nature. I've faced judgment firsthand, and it has deeply impacted my outlook on life.
When I was 18, I experienced one of the harshest judgments of my life. Fresh off earning my A-Levels, I discovered a passion for musical theatre and decided to pursue an additional year of AS Level to learn to read music—an essential skill for the musical theatre school I aspired to attend. But then, my headteacher told me that due to my "delicate" relationship with my girlfriend, it wasn't appropriate for me to continue studying. Imagine being told that because of who you love, you can't pursue your dreams.
That judgment was complete BULLSHIT. Whatever their reasoning—whether they thought I was a distraction, believed I was against Catholic morals, or held some warped view that all gay people were dirty—they were wrong. They didn't have the right to do that. If I had been older and known better, I wouldn’t have kept it to myself for over a decade. I would have told my parents, who would have gone MENTAL. They loved me as I was and always told me I could do anything I wanted by being 100% myself.
Being in a minority is tough. Whether you realize it or not, it can be a harsh experience. You're shamed, judged, and made to feel like an outsider. Sometimes this comes from people who are actively against who you are, and sometimes it comes from society as a whole, albeit without bias.
I spent years after this incident in relationships that were secret. I was paranoid that the people I loved would leave, feeling unworthy and believing I needed to be smaller to fit into the world. I was told not to dream because dreams would only lead to hurt.
But here’s the thing: people are often wrong about you. Think back about your own story and hit back. Tell your own story and break the cycles.
By sharing this, I hope to encourage others to stand up against judgment and be proud of who they are. We all deserve to live the life of our dreams, without fear of discrimination or judgment.
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