VIRTUAL QUEER COMMUNITY
I’ve spoken on the pod many times about how much I love facilitating groups for the L.A. LGBT Center 🏳️🌈 Check out all of the Center’s social networking groups and coming out workshops at the link! They’re all currently meeting over Zoom (Los Angeles local time, i.e. PT), so you can join in no matter where you are in the world 🌎 In addition, I’ve been compiling a Google Doc of groups and organizations that regularly host queer events online, as well as in person! Check out the work-in-progress list here, and email comingoutpod@gmail.com if you know of anything I should add!
queer media list
AKA, “Lauren’s List of Lighthearted LGBTQ+ Stuff with Positive Queer Portrayals!” This is a giant, constantly-evolving list of queer TV shows, films, web series, YouTube channels, and more that I originally created for the participants in the L.A. LGBT Center’s Coming Out Workshop for Women. To that end, it is sapphic-heavy, and specifically geared towards those who have recently come out, or are just beginning their coming out journey. Also, what “positive queer portrayals” means is that you won’t, for example, find “The L Word” listed on here, because too many of those characters are in unhealthy relationships and desperately need to be in therapy!
FreedHearts
If RELIGION is a difficult part of your coming out journey (whether in terms of self-acceptance because of what you’ve been led to believe, or in terms of dealing with religious family members/friends), we HIGHLY recommend you check out FreedHearts! FreedHearts is an absolutely fantastic organization started by Episode 58 guest Susan Cottrell and her husband Robert. The Cottrell’s made the choice to choose their daughter over their church, and because they have a heavily Christian background themselves, they know how to “speak the language” of people who (falsely) believe that their religious convictions preclude them from acceptance. The FreedHearts website has a ton of resources, a video of Susan’s sixteen-minute TEDx Talk, “Why I Chose My LGBTQ Daughter Over the Evangelical Church,” and a link to Susan and Robert’s podcast!
TRANS/NON-BINARY RESOURCES
Trans* Lounge is the L.A. LGBT Center’s empowerment program for social connection and support, specifically serving the TGI/ENBY+ (trans, gender nonconforming, gender expansive, intersex, and non-binary) community! Among other things, they have compiled this excellent TGI/ENBY+ Resource Index. The brick-and-mortar locations for many of the services listed are based in Los Angeles County, but most have phone numbers, etc. that can be accessed from anywhere. Additionally, while all of the resources listed on this index are inclusive of TGI/ENBY+ folks, they are not exclusive to people who fall into those categories. So worth taking a look at, regardless of how you identify! Trans* Lounge also hosts the weekly Zoom group Transgender Perceptions; you can find info for Trans Perceptions (and all of the Center’s social networking groups/coming out workshops) here! Additionally, the following organizations also offer free virtual meetings and support groups for trans folks of all ages, as well as their families and friends: Trans Families, Gender Spectrum, and TransFamily Support Services.
ASEXUALITY AND AROMANTICISM
Interested in learning about the asexual and aromantic spectrums? Here’s a fantastic glossary of ace/aro terms from Seattle Aces & Aros! And for asexuality specifically, AVEN (Asexual Visibility and Education Network) is a fantastic organization to get connected with. We’ve also done a number of episodes with guests who identify as asexual, aromantic, or both! If you click here, you’ll be taken to a page where you can search all of our episode descriptions for terms like “ace,” “aro,” etc. in the 🔍 search bar.
A Coming Out Essay
In Episode 62: “The Girl Who Came Out,” we read a beautiful essay we received from a listener named Breeann Campbell, in which she details her coming out story. Breeann’s essay includes the text of the actual coming out letter she wrote to her parents, and you can read the whole thing here. It’s like listening, but with your eyes!!
THE gender unicorn
Check out the fabulous Gender Unicorn, created by Trans Student Educational Resources! Click the link to visit their website, where you’ll find an interactive fillable version of The Gender Unicorn, and much, much more!
