Results for "California"

Ctrl+Alt+Defeat Discrimination: How One Trans Activist Transformed the Tech Industry.

by Mary Ann Horton

Ctrl+Alt+Defeat Discrimination: How One Trans Activist Transformed the Tech Industry.

My name is Mary Ann Horton, and I’m from San Diego, California.  Think back to 1997. I was a closeted cross-dresser working for Lucent Technologies in Columbus, Ohio. I kneSo I was ready for my first day at work as Mary Ann. I’d waited until I had a good reason to do it. On National Coming Out Day, in 1998, we had a gay couple that owned a res...

Out of the Closet, Into the Mayor’s Office. Todd Gloria’s Coming Out Journey Gives Hope to Others

by Todd Gloria

Out of the Closet, Into the Mayor’s Office. Todd Gloria’s Coming Out Journey Gives Hope to Others

Hi, my name is Todd Gloria, and I was born and raised in San Diego. I’m a third-generation San Diegan and I now serve as the mayor of my hometown.  I was probably about fouSo I would clean my room because I was never going to have my parents go in my room and say, “Go clean your room.” I wasn’t going to have them interact with my t...

From SF Gay Bubble to Conservative College Station, TX: How One Gay Woman Found Her Core of Queers.

by Ann Gillard

From SF Gay Bubble to Conservative College Station, TX: How One Gay Woman Found Her Core of Queers.

A while ago, I moved from Detroit to a lot of other places and eventually ended up in San Francisco. I just basically thought it was a bubble of gay. Everywhere I went, it felt gaAnd she passed me and I passed her, kept on walking. I noticed that my stomach unclenched. I took a breath. I just felt better. I straightened up my shoulders a little bit and I k...

From Threatened to Celebrated: Gay Cop Leaves Law Enforcement, Comes Out, Becomes Educator & Thrives

by Greg Miraglia

From Threatened to Celebrated: Gay Cop Leaves Law Enforcement, Comes Out, Becomes Educator & Thrives

I’m Greg Miraglia, and I’m from Moraga, California.  In 1978, I discovered law enforcement as a possible career. I got really excited about it and I had a chance to jAnd I was thinking to myself, here I am working with colleagues and everybody’s afraid. And if anybody knew that I was gay, they would see me as a threat and I knew I’...

Gay Man Pushes Back Against Mother’s Anti-Gay Vitriol and Their Relationship Thrives as a Result.

by Kai Ambakad

Gay Man Pushes Back Against Mother’s Anti-Gay Vitriol and Their Relationship Thrives as a Result.

Hi, I’m Kai Ambakad from Fullerton, California. I was 19 and I was going to do errands and just have a good day with my mom. So we went out on a Sunday and we were shopping I decided that that was the last straw, because I didn’t need to hear that anymore. And I told her if she wanted to be a part of my life, if she wanted to be at my wedding o...

How a Queer Woman’s Life-Changing Haircut Set Her on a More Authentic Path. “It Was Like Freedom.”

by Natasha Sumner

How a Queer Woman’s Life-Changing Haircut Set Her on a More Authentic Path. “It Was Like Freedom.”

I’m Natasha Sumner and I am from Santa Rosa, California.  Growing up, I was a rough and tumble kid. I loved to be out in the dirt, out in nature. It was the place where I fToday, as you can see, I kept my hair short and revel in it all the time and really enjoy it. You know, I can’t say that these fears of mine and these sort of belief systems...

Three Weddings and a Reconciliation: How One Trans Man’s Patience Helped Heal Family Wounds

by Connor Maddocks

Three Weddings and a Reconciliation: How One Trans Man’s Patience Helped Heal Family Wounds

Hi, my name is Connor Maddocks. I’m from San Diego, California.  When I was say about 45 years old, this amazing thing called the Internet came out and I met some folks onlWe just kind of left it alone. And I would talk to them on the phone and conversations were just very like, “Hey, how are you? I’m fine. I’m fine. Okay, talk to you ...

Gay College Grad’s Bravery Inspires Incoming Freshman to Come Out. “Advocacy Comes in All Shapes and Sizes.”

by Mike Matta

Gay College Grad’s Bravery Inspires Incoming Freshman to Come Out. “Advocacy Comes in All Shapes and Sizes.”

My name is Mike Matta. I’m from Chino, California.  It was February, 2012. It was Valentine’s Day during my junior year of college at UC Santa Barbara. At that point,That moment, in that bar together, we shared something. Even though we don’t know each other very well, we shared something. And I think there’s really something beaut...

Gay Christian Learns to Reconcile his Faith and Sexuality. “God Made Me the Way that I Am.”

by Cameron Reck

Gay Christian Learns to Reconcile his Faith and Sexuality. “God Made Me the Way that I Am.”

Hi, I’m Cameron Reck. I’m from Sebring, Florida. One time, when I was about 12, 13 years old, I ran out to go check the mail and in the mailbox was a random men’I suddenly had respect for my life and understanding that God made me the way that I am and I’m not a mistake. I still very much identify as a Christian. I never tell anyone...

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