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A thread about labels and sexuality.
I've been thinking a lot about labels and how powerful they are. I have mixed feelings. 1/9
I've been thinking a lot about labels and how powerful they are. I have mixed feelings. 1/9
On one hand, labels bring people together. They give you a word and a community to relate to. There's nothing like the feeling of finally finding a word that describes (and normalizes) your experience and thinking "Yes! This is it. This is me." Labels can give you hope. 2/9
But labels are also really scary and intimidating. Because what if it feels right now, but then doesn't feel right later. Are you a fraud if you inadvertently committed to a label that isn't 100% true? 3/9
I really struggled with this before I came out as asexual. I felt like I needed to prove to myself that I was truly asexual before I could ever say the words. Because, how awful would it be if I told people I was asexual and then I ended up being gay... Or god even straight. 4/9
But as I sit here, 100% confident ace, I truly ask: how bad would that be?? Wouldn't it be worse to stick with a label that definitely feels inauthentic?
Sexuality is complicated. Sometimes its obvious and that's great. Sometimes it takes more time and that's okay too. 5/9
Sexuality is complicated. Sometimes its obvious and that's great. Sometimes it takes more time and that's okay too. 5/9
I guess what I'm saying is, there isn't a rule book for figuring out sexuality.
Questioning and/or don't want a label: awesome!
Have a label that feels set in stone: that's great!
Feel like you need to change your label because it doesn't feel authentic anymore: you go! 6/9
Questioning and/or don't want a label: awesome!
Have a label that feels set in stone: that's great!
Feel like you need to change your label because it doesn't feel authentic anymore: you go! 6/9
(My caveat to this is: you should always take your labels seriously. It's definitely not okay to joke around with labels that do not feel authentic to you. Don't change your labels for fun or because you think it's cool.) 7/9
Otherwise, there is no wrong way to be. You're valid as you are, who you are, with whatever label you identify with. 8/9
Gonna end this thread with this poem written/performed by Blythe Baird. Blythe explains this concept beautifully I think.
(trigger warning for some discussion of experiences of homophobia) 9/9
(trigger warning for some discussion of experiences of homophobia) 9/9
