This Is How We Win

(Diriye Osman is photographed by Bahareh Hosseini)

I received an email a few months ago from one of my readers, a Somali teenager who was exploring her sexuality and was determined to come out to her parents and claim her space in the world.

This reader wasn’t seeking counsel. She had already decided on her path, psychic compass at the ready and was simply looking for someone to confide in — someone, not dissimilar to a therapist, who would allow her to state her truth and encourage her to tap to her own tune.

I sensed this and so I kept my responses as open-ended as possible. There were so many pieces of wisdom I wish I could have shared with this young girl, but I knew that what she wanted was not offerings of wisdom but to expel her fears by sharing them, by articulating them and then moving on to eat the world.

I didn’t mind this because I know the world is often a harsh, unforgiving place for LGBT youth. Still, when I didn’t hear from the girl again I wondered how she was. I wondered if she had ever come out to her parents or if she had headed down a different path. I wondered if she was safe. I wondered if she was hurt or healing. I wondered if her heart was broken by the realization that her parents, who were, she said, strict Muslims, might not forgive her for what they perceived as a presumably inexcusable transgression.

I sent a couple of cheery messages to the young girl enquiring about her health and wellbeing. She never wrote back.

To this day, I don’t know what became of her but if she’s reading this, I would say:

Wait. You may feel like your future is slipping from your grasp, that if you don’t rush now to greet your dreams you might lose out on them, but please wait. If you are coming from an unsupportive environment with regards to your sexual orientation, the best thing to do is to establish your independence. Make sure you have a support network of loving and loyal friends. Make sure you have somewhere to live. Make sure you have an income to sustain you. Place a premium on your life. Always, always place a premium on your life.

When all these elements have been configured and your psychic compass is at the ready, go forth in the knowledge that you’ve created a self-preserving future for yourself. Go forth in the knowledge that you have a safe space to call home. Go forth in the knowledge that not only are you kicking ass but you are kicking ass on a major scale. Go forth in the knowledge that not only are you winning at life but you have already won.

Diriye Osman is the Polari Prize-winning author of “Fairytales For Lost Children” (Team Angelica Press), a collection of critically-acclaimed short stories about the LGBT Somali experience. You can purchase the book here and you can connect with Osman via Tumblr.

www.huffingtonpost.com/diriye-osman/this-is-how-we-win_b_6625962.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices&ir=Gay+Voices

Tori Sisson and Shanté Wolfe are First Same-Sex Couple to Marry in Montgomery

HRC Alabama celebrates as marriage equality arrives for the state’s committed, loving gay and lesbian couples
HRC.org

www.hrc.org/blog/entry/tori-sisson-and-shante-wolfe-are-first-same-sex-couple-to-marry-in-montgome?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

15 Gayest And Greatest Moments At The 2015 Grammys

Sam Smith did the gays proud at the 56th annual Grammys last night, walking away with four trophies and the show thanks to a stirring performance with Queen of Hip-Hop Soul Mary J. Blige. Let’s take a look at some of the moments that gave life and gave pause.

Here are the 15 gayest and greatest moments from the 2015 Grammy Awards.

Tony Bennett’s vs. Lady Gaga’s reaction to opening act AC/DC

Ariana Grande being the cutest pop star alive

Noted silver fox Tom Jones and his sequined tux

Nicki Minaj barely tolerating new BFF Miley Cyrus

Madonna’s human leg brace

The Grammys clearly didn’t listen to the song they nominated Jennifer Hudson for — this is her video for “Walk It Out.”

Annie Lennox taking Hozier to church…and then school. Hope he was taking notes.

Rihanna delivering her first solid live performance, well, ever. Also, this smoking, though.

Speaking of couture, can we talk about Kim K’s shoulders?

These two queens shutting everything down.

The moment Beyoncé realized she’s going to have to choke a bitch.

The moment we realized Kanye might actually have a sense of humor. But not really.

Kristen adding another Wiig to Sia’s performance.

Sam Smith winning his fourth Grammy and throwing the best shade in the world.

Bey conjuring up the Holy Ghost to smite the Recording Academy.

Les Fabian Brathwaite, much like Diana Ross, has never won a competitive Grammy.

Les Fabian Brathwaite

feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/jltRzAi-6uI/15-gayest-and-greatest-moments-at-the-2015-grammys-20150209

One Year After Coming Out, Michael Sam Is 'Not On A Team Because He's Gay'

John Wright

www.towleroad.com/2015/02/one-year-after-coming-out-michael-sam-is-not-on-a-team-because-hes-gay.html

Brazilian Students Create Calendar Starring Transgender Models (PHOTOS)
A daily political and social struggle.

It was this idea that motivated two students from the UFMG (Federal University of Minas Gerais), Mariana Moraes and Daniella Rodrigues, to create a 2015 calendar using only transgender models.

“‘Geni: A photo shoot with transitioned bodies’ wishes to present to a transphobic society, the violent producer of invisibility and barriers in which we live, that everyone can and should be recognized as human beings, and not be sorted by gender. We seek to exploit the performance potential that exists within these bodies and that clashes with the established stereotype, pointing out the possibility of breaking certain stigmas,” says Mariana, emphasizing the project’s social importance.

According to the organizers, “Geni” is a project that calls into question the representation of transgender bodies, while shifting these people from a place of marginalization to a place of visibility.

“We were able to break some physical stereotypes too,” adds Daniella Rodrigues.

Below are images from the calendar, which you can download here.

This post originally appeared on HuffPost Brazil and was translated into English.

www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/09/trans-visibility-calendar_n_6623460.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices&ir=Gay+Voices

Marriage Equality Arrives in Alabama: PHOTOS

Kyler Geoffroy

www.towleroad.com/2015/02/marriage-equality-begins-in-alabama.html

Former 'Idol' Star Talks Fear, Fame, and Femininity

Jaidah Christina Davila, known on Idol as Josh JDA, talks about how the show has changed her life.

read more

Dawn Ennis

www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/2015/02/09/former-idol-star-talks-fear-fame-and-femininity