2024 updates: 1. we are living in a wildly frightening time to be a young lgbt+ person - my heart goes out to anyone who is facing backlash from their family, school, or community. it's hard to give overarching resources and advice when the rights and protections afforded to young lgbt people vary between us states and internationally, but please know: wherever you are located, there are people who are on your side, fighting for you to have the rights you deserve. try looking into local libraries, community centers, and school organizations, as well as looking up trans or gay-specific resources and laws for your state, county, or city. 2. a lot of people have commented about being worried about coming out to their parents. do not force yourselves to do anything before you're ready to. gather strength, wait for the right moment, and don't feel ashamed of doing something so vulnerable and difficult – i wish you all the luck in the world. that said, if you have reason to believe that your parents will make your life more difficult in any way if you were to share that part of yourself with them, PLEASE do not feel the pressure to come out. there are people - your age, your parents' age, your grandparents' age - who will stand by you and embrace you as you are. i promise you will find them. 3. if you find yourself listening to hateful diatribes from your parents or family members, or getting into exhausting arguments that just end with you feeling miserable and nobody changing their minds, it's okay to disengage. you are not giving up: you are keeping yourself safe. sometimes it's okay to save your energy. it's okay to make the choice that makes you feel safer, even if it's not the choice that makes you feel braver. you are already brave. if you want to try to shut a conversation like that down without getting locked into a political disagreement, you can try saying something like "hey, can we talk about something else?" or "i guess i just don't care that much about other people's personal choices" or (if the context involves politics or an election) "i just think politicians should focus on [job creation, grocery prices, improving schools or infrastructure, or another public good that makes running on a hate movement seem ridiculous.]." if zoning out or leaving the room for conversations like this is what feels easiest, though, do that! 4. it's horrible to have to write this, but if you believe it's in your best interests to hide your identity for now or indefinitely, please look up your state's regulations about whether teachers at school are allowed or even legally required to reveal information like a name or pronouns to parents without your consent. on the flip side, depending on your area, it well may be that your state or school district has regulations protecting your right to be called the right name or providing recourse if you're harassed for your identity. do your research, or ask a trusted friend or adult to help look things up and make your case. 5. this is advice that goes for teens and preteens in general, but it's particularly relevant for lgbt teens because real-life social circles can be such a complicated place to express your true self. the internet is a great resource for getting support, but please be careful about sharing your personal information or vulnerable feelings with people you don't know well. the best way to get to know someone online is in a large public forum with accountability and moderation practices, like scratch - be very cautious about anyone who seems too quick or eager to move your interactions to a less moderated space. 6. at the age of ten or twelve or fifteen the world outside your school and family seems light years away, but i promise it's there. time and time again, legislators who run on anti-trans or anti-gay hate are defeated; when put to the popular vote, bills targeting these communities often fail. even in places like florida and england, where rhetoric like this seems inescapable and the government itself is falsely claiming that young people don't have the right to decide who they are, it is most often brought to the forefront by minority fringe groups. nationally and internationally, the tide will turn! and in your own life, gather your friends and allies, protect your energy and time, and do what it takes to move forward. one day you will not depend on your parents for resources. one day you will have the freedom to seek community in the places that embrace who you are. even something like getting a driver's license does wonders. i made this project when i was 14, in great part to reassure myself that i was not lying to myself about my identity. now i'm 24, living with my beautiful girlfriend, surrounded by gay and trans friends and community members who mean the world to me. the world is so much bigger than i dreamed it was when i made this project. good luck.
2024 miscellaneous notes unrelated to my diatribe above: - the U in slide one was meant to be an i for intersex lol, copyediting was not my young self's strong suit - if you want to remix this project or use the art/writing for whatever purpose, feel free! unless it's to be homophobic lol - space for next slide! - if you see someone being homophobic or transphobic in these project notes: save your energy, report them, and don't engage. hate is against scratch's community guidelines! in general, you don't always have the option to silence a hateful person in real life by blocking and reporting them, so use that privilege online to your heart's content. - if you are considering starting circular discourse in these comments about whether someones identity is 'lgbt enough' or 'real' or whatever else: don't! this is not the place! - (og notes from 2015 below:) sorry I was feeling restless and decided to yell at the internet. we all dread those evenings when Katia Gets Motivational, right? we all have nightmares about them. remember what happened last time? 'girls - a new viewpoint' and i got into an argument with an MRA then again that one had effort put into it but this one has better art oh dear whatever, y'all, go wild music credit to sleeping at last. they're good check them out.
