It's not a title I bring up all that often, but I do consider myself a survivor of that because I got out of a situation that went on over 10 years – but could have gone on the rest of my life. I didn't believe I could accept better. I think that's a big part of growing up in a household where you know, homosexuality, queerness wasn't accepted. The bar was really low for me.

Things were physical, maybe a couple of times, but it was mostly psychological and just control and manipulation.

I speak as somebody who's proud of who I am.

And I speak as somebody who has overcome a lot.  And learning to ask for help and accept it. 

I speak as someone who wants better for community and wants to bring people together and see their potential and have a higher standard for what they accept. 

I speak as someone who believes in finding community outside of the traditional family realm, which often rejects us.

By no means am I fixed, but I speak as somebody who has survived and figured out ways to thrive.