Hyper-Independence: Why LGBTQI+ People Struggle to Ask for Help

Many LGBTQI+ people are praised for being “strong.” They are the reliable one.The self-sufficient one.The one who handles things alone.The one who never asks for too much.The one who copes quietly. From the outside, this can look impressive:high functioning, emotionally composed, independent, capable. But underneath that independence is often something much more complicated. Because forContinue reading “Hyper-Independence: Why LGBTQI+ People Struggle to Ask for Help”

The Cost of Code-Switching: How Constant Self-Editing Leads to LGBTQI+ Burnout

Many LGBTQI+ people can describe the moment they enter a room and instinctively begin calculating. How much of myself is safe here?How should I speak?What topics should I avoid?Should I mention my partner?Should I soften my voice?Should I avoid eye contact?Should I act “less queer”?Should I explain myself pre-emptively? Often, this process happens so quicklyContinue reading “The Cost of Code-Switching: How Constant Self-Editing Leads to LGBTQI+ Burnout”