The telling of these stories, the recognition of queer people and their humanity, is the only way out for our community to adequately support all of our members – it is the only way out for all of us.

This is telling of what is collectively valued. It is also sad – these values that are being taught and passed down, the inevitable urge to give up the good things in life, the possibility of living a good, content life, in order to save face and appear to be happy and “respectable.”

Fitness progress is often showcased in an extremely linear way online. However, between the consistency of working out are setbacks, disappointments, and multiple standstill moments.

For some, boundaries are stretched thin and for others, the boundaries are re-negotiated while learning more about themselves.

We’ve stayed in past, in the dark ages, sustaining this definition of beauty, enabling it to define our lives and livelihood in return. When will we leave it?

The pressure to literally shapeshift, because of corporate interests reflected in mass marketing campaigns, will always remain as trends go in and out of style.