As Pride month draws to a close, we want to celebrate and support our LGBTQIA+ community. We hope your Pride month was fulfilling, and we stand alongside our fellow Lesbian, Gay, Trans, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, Agender, and beyond individuals, not just in June, but throughout the year. In this newsletter, I will introduce the concept of queer embodiment. 

The 25 Most Influential Works of Postwar Queer Literature
By Kurt Soller, Liz Brown, Rose Courteau, Kate Guadagnino, Sara Holdren, Brian Keith Jackson, Evan Moffitt, Miguel Morales, Tomi Obaro, Coco Romack, Michael Snyder and June Thomas for The New York Times

“We think of Pride — capital P — in terms of community: Men, women and nonbinary people loudly claiming their existence, their contribution to society and culture, and their ability to love,” he wrote. “But no one will ever know exactly how each of us learned self-acceptance or how to create community from that acceptance.”

I wouldn't broach the topic of my sexuality with my family until I was 19, at university, and in a long-term relationship with my boyfriend. As I braced myself for that conversation, I told myself that this uncomfortable moment would last just a few minutes, and that I would never have to face it again.

Language is an extremely powerful tool. It allows us to generate ideas, share stories, and learn and grow from others. Whether spoken, signed, or written, all languages are constantly evolving, and, despite their imperfections, can help us better understand our world and communicate our perspective with others.

Every day, queer teens and young adults are challenged by the politicization of gender identity and sexual orientation and the rise in anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination. And the mental health consequences are alarming.