LGBTQIA+ ancestors inspire and encourage Queer people. LGBTQIA+ communities need this inspiration and encouragement, as they suffer higher rates of mental illness, often brought on by discrimination and oppression not impacting other straight and cisgender individuals.   LGBTQIA+ ancestors can be activists who won rights and freedoms—and still fight that fight—for this community. They are a noble part of the history of LGBTQIA+ rights. The community also takes inspiration from the history of great Queer artists. William Shakespeare, who is known as the English language’s greatest playwright, wrote 126 love poems [...]

What are pronouns? Pronouns are words we use to describe ourselves and others. Examples of pronouns include: She, he, they, him, his, hers, ours, and them. Why are pronouns important? Beyond the words, pronouns are a chance to describe ourselves as we are. For many people, our names are given to us by our parents or caregivers. When we choose pronouns, we get the chance to make a choice for ourselves. When we use the correct pronouns, we show someone appreciation and respect. And when we do not use the [...]

The month of June brings a colorful array of events for and by the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) communities, especially here in the city of Philadelphia. History shows us these communities have experienced their share of triumphs as well as tribulations. More recently, the roller coaster climate of anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-trans laws, policies, and sentiments continue to bring pain to the LGBTQ+ communities. In a 2021 national poll conducted by The Trevor Project, 85 percent of transgender and nonbinary youth surveyed indicated a decrease in their mental [...]

October is LGBTQ+ History Month. To celebrate, let’s turn our attention to a couple Philadelphians whose advocacy contributed greatly to the advancement of LGBTQ+ civil rights in the United States. John E. Fryer was a psychiatrist and a faculty member of Temple University School of Medicine. He was also a homosexual. (A note on usage: Homosexual was the word Fryer and others used to self-identify. Today the term is discouraged in favor of gay and lesbian.)  At the time, a homosexual psychiatrist was thought to be an oxymoron. This was [...]