Kathy's is probably as good a description as I'm likely to come up with. I don't know if "duty" is the word I'd choose as much as I just feel compelled by something within me to do it.   But this has always been true for me, even when I was seen by the world and thought I was a cis-het, white man. Justice and equity for ALL people has always been one of my core values. And it's not limited to the alphabet group. The longer that acronym becomes, the more I think it acknowledges that there really is no attribute that unifies its members; it's effectively "the non-normative." I've always been a champion of the people at the edges of society - migrants, poor, uneducated, disabled... You name it.   What's new and different and feels odd is being included in the group myself - even though I have always been proudly "weird." It's as if now my weirdness is certified. I can't say that changes much for me in this regard. I'll still gladly encourage people to be themselves and be their best, authentic selves they possibly can - because *everyone* benefits when people do that.

Trans Group Zoom Meeting, Saturday (Sun. in Aus) !!   Trans Groups Zoom Meeting Times:   June 27, 2026 6:00 PM Pacific Time June 27, 2026 8:00 PM Central Time June 27, 2026 9:00 PM Eastern Time June 28, 2026 11:00 AM Australia/Melbourne   Join Zoom Meeting   https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81655484661?pwd=cRfy8mh5VOzGvo0dwELEWEORAZesa8.1   Meeting ID: 816 5548 4661 Passcode: 853625

Again, I love the way you're going about this. It's so beneficial to observe how we feel - especially when it's different from what we're used to - and to try to discern where it's coming from and what it means for us. I so appreciate your willingness to share that experience here.

Good afternoon    right now we are enjoying a thunderstorm heavy rain and lots of lightning.  It one of those that is broken up but radar indicates it will continue for a while.  We are on our screen porch enjoying it. We have shades that I put down to keep the rain at bay.  We can still see out.   @Tiana I hope your esthetician feels you are a candidate. At my age I and hair color, I’m told I would not be.  White hair doesn’t work, and I really can’t afford it.  I’m done with any further cosmetic procedures.  Besides, as long as I live in SC, I wouldn’t be able to.  Our legislators have made it next to impossible for transgenders to get any sort of medical care.  And under 18? Forget it completely, you’d have to leave the state.   I suppose I should go in and make lunch, but I’m still enjoying the rain and distant rumbles.  We are within 3 miles of the ocean so we get to hear a lot more than we actually receive.

There actually may be a couple of these flags flying in the neighborhood. Kinda hard to tell because they’re usually hanging limp. I’ll have to take a closer look.

First realizing that I belonged to two of the letters gave me a sense of affirmation and belonging that I never would have imagined.

@KathyLauren - Sometimes, I wish there was a like / love button to just express how much I love what someone has just said. This is a much better thing than I tried to say. 

Being somewhere in the 2SLGBTQIA+ alphabet soup means nothing to me.  It is purely descriptive.  It is like asking what does being 5'8" mean to me.  I yam what I yam.  I am L and T, and that is it.   But identifying and associating with other alphabet soup people and supporting activism do mean something to me.  They represent the struggle we share to push back against those who would lock us up and exterminate us.  I support them because we are not yet free, and in fact are getting less free all the time.  And associating with others who share similar experiences is a good basis for friendships.   It would be lovely if Pride were no longer necessary.  If same-sex couples could show affection in public and if trans people could choose the appropriate washroom.  If non-binary and intersex people were not required to choose sides unless they wanted to.  I am in a place where I can enjoy those freedoms, and I see it as my duty to try to spread that good fortune to others.  

In case you don't know the symbols of latest flag  

Wheel keep turning, round and round.

Seeing Pride being treated like it has this year I can say Silvera Rivera was right. Capitalist Pride destroyed what pride was supposed to be. 

This is such a good question, and I am looking forward to seeing how people feel.    I find it quite tricky.    I have identified as LGBTQ+ for decades. But, really, for me, it just was a useful way of expressing 'this is a linguistic way of describing SOMETHING of the complexity of who I am, and who I might be attracted to'   I struggle with it, because, I feel like, living as if LGBTQ+ is... Hmmmm. I feel like reducing my places to go and things to do to LGBTQ+ would be similar to only doing things for people with green eyes or only socialising with people with dark hair. It's who I AM, but, it's nowhere even CLOSE to ALL of who I am. I feel a bit anxious about corralling LGBTQ+ people for Pride for example. I love the idea that we should be ABLE and FREE to be open, and confident in our LGBTQ+ identity, but, I feel like doing that OUTSIDE of the rest of society, while NECESSARY AT THE MOMENT FOR SAFETY REASONS, should NOT be an end point. Should not be the ultimate goal.   I want to be a WHOLE person. If I ONLY interact based on my gender identity OR who I am attracted to, that feels weird to me. They feel like small, important, yes, but, small parts of my whole being.    I would LOVE to meet someone and have a healthy relationship, but, I want to meet someone who is a person who IS LGBTQ+ and MAY love Pride and show up for people and events in that sphere, but ALSO has other interests and skills and talents and loves and fears and hopes and dreams and losses and damage and joy for ALL KINDS of human reasons.    I think it's sad and something we need to change if people ONLY feel SAFE being and socialising within the protected spaces for LGBTQ+ folks. 

What does it mean to be LGBTQIA2S+ or an Ally mean to you?

Thank you! Also, please do feel completely free to pop me a message any time, if you are having a rough day OR if you have sparkly joy...