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June 6, 2025 — I’ve spent my entire life trying to prove that I was enough to family, friends, teachers, and even myself. Growing up queer in a conservative Catholic school, I learned quickly that being different meant being cast aside. Like many other queer individuals, I spent a lifetime masking who I am. My mind was a constant swirl of questions and fears: Can I come out? Am I safe here? Can I talk like this? Can I dress like this? Can I be loved the way I am? The world was sending me messages that I was less worthy of love, care, and understanding because of who I loved. And yet, like so many in the LGBTQIA+ community, I have not only survived but thrived. I didn’t do so by conforming to unrealistic standards or the stereotypes already etched ahead of me. I carved my path by finding the people who reminded me that I am perfect and worthy of love just as I am. Mental health is inherently connected to our sense of belonging, both within ourselves and in our communities. For LGBTQIA+ youth, who are disproportionately affected by depression, anxiety, and suicide, affirmation is not simply comforting; it’s life-saving. The Trevor Project shares that LGBTQIA+ youth are up to four times as likely to attempt suicide as their peers. Additionally, they estimate that more than 1.8 million LGBTQ+ young people (ages 13-24) seriously consider suicide each year in the U.S., and at least one attempts suicide every 45 seconds. That is a startling statistic and a sobering reality for the queer community in the U.S. But suicide is preventable when we forge communities of care and belonging. It’s in the gentle affirmations of friends who became family, in the warmth of Pride gatherings, in late-night texts with others navigating the same storm. The simple, sacred truth that existence is enough becomes a beacon of hope when the world feels too heavy. This belief inspired me to launch Break the STIGMA (Rooted in Pride, We Bloom), a mental health campaign I created to center LGBTQ+ voices in conversations around healing and care. Through educational resources, affirming visuals, and digital spaces built on empathy, the campaign aims to reduce mental health disparities while celebrating queer identity. It’s a love letter to my younger self — and to every queer person who’s ever felt alone in a crowded room. Dismantling the cycle of stigma is essential because stigma doesn’t just live in slurs or policies; it lives in silence. It’s internalized through years of being told we’re “too much” or “not enough,” and it manifests in self-doubt, shame, and fear. By breaking the silence and naming our truths, we reclaim our narratives. This is at the heart of Break the STIGMA. Our theory of change is simple yet powerful: visibility, education, and affirmation can disrupt shame and replace it with self-worth. When we create spaces where people feel seen and validated, we challenge the systems that told us we didn’t belong, and we begin to heal. And because access matters, I want to make sure you know that there are directories to help you find LGBTQIA+ affirming mental health providers, whether you’re looking for therapists, support groups, or crisis services. Some trusted starting points include our Crisis webpage (breakthestigma.net/crisis), The Trevor Project’s Resource Center, GLMA’s Provider Directory, and Inclusive Therapists. You deserve care that sees all of you. Most importantly, BTS is a call to action. A soft reminder that every one of us has the power to be the person we once needed. Healing is a nonlinear process that looks different for everyone. Sometimes healing means sitting with your emotions, reaching out for the help you need, or choosing to stay another day. Existence is enough. In a country and world that often feel hostile to LGBTQIA+ existence, simply existing as your beautiful queer self is radical. So choose joy, choose community, and choose yourself. I write this now with the deepest conviction: you are not broken. You are not a burden. You don’t need to prove your worth to anyone. You deserve to take up space, to breathe deeply, to laugh loudly, to cry safely. I am here to meet you at any stage of your journey, whether you’re still finding your chosen family or feeling settled within your greater community. Let this echo across bedrooms, classrooms, bus stops, and browser tabs: You are enough. You always have been. When you find the people who see all the different facets of your unique personhood - the light, the mess, and the genuine brilliance – you’ll remember what I now know to be true: healing begins with being held. When we’re rooted in pride, together we bloom through any obstacle. 

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