Every year, millions of people in the United States celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride. June has been dubbed Pride Month, in honor of the LGBTQ+ history made this time of year, starting with the Stonewall Riots in 1969. Despite Pride Month itself being relatively new in the grand scheme of things, LGBTQ+ people have always existed, even if not in the specific names we denote to members of the community today.

Let’s be real: being queer in 2025 isn’t exactly easy. With so much happening politically, from anti-LGBTQ+ laws to harmful rhetoric in the media, it’s no surprise that so many in our community are feeling anxious, exhausted, or isolated. And when the world feels overwhelming, connecting with other people who get it isn’t just nice… It’s essential for our mental health.

Despite knowing something was “up” for years, that I was different in some way from a lot of my peers, I didn’t fully come out as a non-binary, transgender person until after high school.

Gender affirmation encompasses a spectrum of interventions aimed at aligning an individual's gender identity with their authentic self. For transgender individuals, this journey can be both liberating and challenging, often fraught with societal stigma and internal struggles.