I just recently realized I was pansexual. I never really thought much about relationships until my late teens. At the beginning of the year, I realized I wasn’t just attracted to men. At first I thought I was bisexual. But, as I dug into it and truly gave it some thought, I realized I liked people not based on their gender, but based off of who they are. Ergo, the label “pansexual” fits me well.
Since this is still so new to me, I’m still accepting it myself. Most people who know me don’t know about this yet. As someone in a red city in a blue state, I’m trapped in a place where people don’t accept anyone different from them.
What historical events have affected you personally? (This may include your family.)
Right now is pretty big for me. With everything that is going on in the country - meaning, the Black Lives Matter movement - I’ve been impacted myself. As someone who is white, I’d never thought about how hard it is for others in America, since I’ve never really seen or experienced it. However, with this, I’ve really been able to learn and speak my mind about things I care about. I’m no longer quiet.
Because I am white, I have privileges. I’m using them to help everyone be treated like a person. The BLM movement may not be about the LGBTQ+ community, but I feel that I must help regardless. My community still fights to be accepted, so we must help others facing similar issues.
What events do you think should be taught in schools that connect to your own personal story?
Students should learn about what being LGBTQ+ is. I didn’t know what it was until I was a teenager. If it’s taught, people will be more accepting of others. Moreover, I think people will realize themselves earlier if they are taught about the LGBTQ+ community. If people are exposed to these things when they are young, it will make people be kinder towards those different from them.
What does the American Dream mean to you? How does it differ from what you thought it would be?
I always thought the American Dream was growing up, going to college, getting a good education, and then getting a good job or owning a business. It meant getting married, having kids, and growing old in a nice house on a farm or something.
I now realize that it’s about fighting for what’s right. It’s about changing things for the better. It’s about being the change.
The first one sounds pretty nice, but the second is how our country was founded. It shouldn’t be radical to do the same thing now. We need to change from them and create a better now and a better future.
