LGBTQ+ Voices / Volume 2

May 23, 2022 [3:53 PM] Interview Transcript

Q: If applicable, how was your experience coming out? Is there anything non-LGBTQ+ people could have done to make your coming-out experience more comfortable?

A: I haven't come out to my parents or relatives, but I've felt comfortable talking about sexuality and gender with friends I know for a fact are accepting. I think non-LGBTQ+ people could make coming out, in general, more comfortable or safer by making it clear that they wouldn't judge.

Q: What do you find is the difference between coming to terms with your sexuality vs. your gender identity?

A: I think the main difference between coming to terms with sexuality vs gender identity lies in who you're comfortable with vs being comfortable with yourself. Romantic/sexual orientation depends on your feelings towards other people after all.

Q: How does being queer impact your perspective and/or perception of feminism?

A: My views on feminism haven't ever been properly defined besides that it's necessary if that makes sense. I suppose being queer changes nothing in that sense, besides simply intensifying the feeling that people should be comfortable with themselves and how they present their own identities because that's their own business and they're not harming anyone.

Q: Does TAS do a sufficient job including LGBTQ+ students and faculty? If not, what can they improve on?

A: I think thus far TAS has done a pretty good job being inclusive, but that's an opinion based on limited experience from past schools. Everything about TAS has been much better for me compared to those previous experiences, so that may be low standards speaking.

Q: How does religion play a role in your life?

A: I'm not particularly religious, nor am I against religions, and so it hasn't impacted my life much. Knowing there are religious people who use their religion as an excuse to be homophobic/transphobic do make the prospect of coming out significantly more terrifying, however.