How Do I Know For Sure If I’m Gay, Bi, Ace, or Trans?   (Spoiler: There’s No Pee-on-a-Stick Test For This)   Let’s get one thing out of the way immediately: there is no clipboard. There is no lab. Nobody is going to hand you a Scantron sheet, tell you to fill in the bubbles […]

I spend much of my professional life helping organizations think critically about inclusion. Whether I’m working with healthcare systems, schools, nonprofits, or workplaces, the questions are often different, but the underlying challenges are remarkably consistent. Over time, one truth has become increasingly clear. We often mistake visibility for inclusion and representation for equity.   The […]

Psychological Safety Without Accountability Isn’t Safety; It’s Avoidance Over the last few years, I have seen a significant increase in conversations around psychological safety. Organizations, schools, nonprofits, and community groups are all trying to understand how to create environments where people feel welcomed, heard, and valued.While I am encouraged by the growing interest, I have […]

When it comes to appearance and expression, we all have a moment in our lives where we decide between what others think we should be and how we actually want to show up. This can happen at a formal event, a themed party, a night out with friends, or even just a random Saturday when […]

If you’re part of the LGBTQIA+ community, you already know the weight this word carries. Faggot has long been used as a slur meant to distill hatred into a single syllable, most often aimed at gay men and those perceived as queer. Nearly everyone I know in this community has been called it and carries […]

The Toilet Seat Didn’t Give You Chlamydia How many times have you heard someone say they got a sexually transmitted infection (STI) from a toilet seat? This belief portrays the toilet seat as a source of infection, which is misleading. This is one of the most common excuses I hear, usually from someone who doesn’t […]

“Are you a boy or a girl?”“Are you male or female?” Recently, someone in my comments demanded that I answer this question, and honestly, this isn’t uncommon. Many nonbinary people, transgender people, intersex people and people who present as androgynous hear this all the time. This even includes cisgender women with short hair or cisgender […]

In the journey of self-discovery, the concept of “coming out” has been deeply ingrained in the LGBTQIA+ narrative. Growing up, I, too, grappled with the idea of making a grand announcement about my sexuality or gender identity. There was a reluctance to label it as a significant event, as I firmly believed that understanding one’s […]

Are you a professional promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity within organizations to create a welcoming and equitable environment? While efforts to include LGBTQIA+ individuals are commendable, it’s important to approach such initiatives thoughtfully and genuinely. Organizations must recognize potential pitfalls to ensure authentic and effective LGBTQIA+ inclusion. This blog will discuss five red flags for […]

Celebrating Nonbinary People’s Day is an occasion to honor and uplift the experiences of nonbinary individuals, acknowledging their unique journeys in navigating identity. In this reflection, I delve into my challenges and story as a nonbinary person. Often, as I reflect on my gender self-concept and connection to the world around me, I confront how […]