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When I first realized that I technically am a queer and trans elder, simply because I'm alive, because I'm not "young" anymore, it came with a very deep sadness. How many others don't make it this far? And what does it even mean to be a queer elder? Historically, being an elder means that you're embedded within a community, that you are a cornerstone of stories and history, that younger generations know they can rely on you. But as a queer elder what I feel most often is loneliness.

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I mourn the loss of queer ancestors and future ancestors. This podcast episode felt like an impassioned plea for me for people to give a crap for queer folx!

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I love your call to action for community. I hear and agree how love and grief is the same thing.

THIS, Christa! This makes me cry too! "the younger you come out as queer, the more obviously you have to contend with a lot of these negative emotions. And I'm not saying like adults to come out later in life don't have to deal with this. But I think being brave enough to be resistant and being out there and being authentically yourself that young – can come with a lot of shit. It comes with a lot of like people, especially if you're a minor, it comes with the pressure of your parents and adults. And like, if you are doing higher education than that, and then professional life, there are so many things to think about when existing as a queer person and wanting to be safe that I think the performativity and the wanting to come out is a very brave expression of And that in itself makes me want to cry because I see how many people identify withtheir queerness and I see how not being able to express their identity fully because of discrimination is. hurting them and it's killing us, right?'

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