04/21/2026
Yesterday we had a small fundraiser ice cream fundraiser Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams in Carytown.
Like any event, I arrived early to add a few elements of LGBTQ+ visibility and pride. I placed small trans/rainbow flags on the sidewalk sign the store employees had put out front for our event, along with flags & fliers for folks to take after getting ice cream and supporting our mission.
I’d been there for about 5 minutes and right as I was taking a photo two young boys walked by making homophobic and transphobic remarks and then tearing down the flags I’d just put in place.
They were young, but old enough to be walking around in Carytown without parents. Actions like this certainly aren’t unknown to me, and they were just young teens after all; so I simply asked them to move along and replaced the flags.
Moments later one of the boys came back to the corner and shouted numerous homo/transphobic slurs at me, ending his tirade with calling me the homophobic F word.
I was less angry than I was just….sad.
This behavior isn’t natural. It is learned.
I want to believe this young boy’s parents didn’t teach him this kind of hatred. I want to believe his peers at school don’t act this way or encourage this kind of behavior. I want to believe a better word for LGBTQ+ youth is unfolding…
But here’s the thing —
The thing that my community of q***r and trans folks are experiencing, are exhausted by, and constantly trying to keep our resilience in spite of:
Hatred and anti-LGBTQ+ violence is on the rise.
Because at every turn systems of power are feeding the masses that we are a sickness, something to be feared, something to harm. And because the systems of power hold all the power — it trickles down so that corporations, medical & housing institutions, and even our own families withhold resources, shut doors in our faces, pull back funding and support, and turn their backs on us.
I say all of this to share that these experiences — anti-LGBTQ+ acts of hate happen every day. In areas many of us consider “LGBTQ+ safe spaces.”
They tore our flags down. They tore me down.
But the flags stayed and so did I.
Q***r visibility remains so crucial. Because when our communities, kids, families and friends know us and love us — it builds compassion, it builds commonality and connection.
Fellow parents, teach your kids about our existence. Bring them to LGBTQ+ focused and affirming events. Diversity and inclusion isn’t about historically excluded populations seeking extra privileges — it’s about us simply seeking humanity.
Lastly, the many beautiful, smiling, and ice-cream enjoying q***r siblings and allies who came out, you helped to end my evening on a high note (no pun intended 😉)
