Insensitive Jokes: Coping with Humor or Outright Cruelty? I have a friend who has a sight disability. I have always been fascinated by his ability to tell who is walking towards him so I asked him how he does it. His explanation was that as his sight continues to...
Women Wearing Slutty Dresses: Keeping Would-Be Rapists in Their Place “You filthy ho. Come suck my dick” They were ugly words spoken by a smartly dressed man who could have been an accountant at a prestigious company. He had that studious and slightly confused look that I have always...
Acid Attack: A Victim Refuses to Take It Lying Down I was never the most handsome person in the world and I certainly never aspired to be a model or something of the sort. However, I was a normal young man. My troubles started when I met and fell...
LGBTQI Activists and Self-Care – When young LGBTQI+ people decide to engage in activism, in order to advocate for their rights, contribute to their community, or support each other, they encounter the concept of burnout. I was first introduced to burnout by other young LGBTQI activists, when I joined...
Fear of the Strange and Unknown – It is the stigma that dare not speak its name. We have reached the stage at which HIV infection is not an automatic death sentence. The presence of ARVs means that the wasted bodies of victims are no longer an integral aspect of...
In love with a violent man – At first everybody was sympathetic. Even those who disapproved of my “lifestyle” felt that it was a bit much that I should be treated this way. Jamie is a rollercoaster of personalities. There are so many of them that I do not...
I want to have sex but i can’t because I am an intersex woman. Do you know what intersex means? My body has now become a subject of controversy but it was not always that way. My parents were very good in terms of making me feel special. Unfortunately,...
Heartbreak Lessons: Who doesn’t want to live happily ever after? I know I do. I know that most of us, even those who seem to look at love and relationships in a cynical light, dream of creating our very own happy ever-after with the person we are in love...
The Sad Fate of Maria: You Need To Hear Her Story I am sharing my story, in the hopes of inspiring others to be strong enough to leave a situation that is detrimental to one’s health, happiness and growth. The story starts in the eyes of a three-year-old girl...
An open letter to my mother: True personal acceptance and love cannot be conditional Cutting my hair was my first step towards personal acceptance. Cutting my hair consisted of months upon months of admiring various cuts and colors, before finally working up the courage to do it, despite your...
My name is Leonard. I am 21 years old. I am from Haiti but a US citizen. This letter is my cry for help because the world seems to be deaf to my cries for help and oblivious to my dire plight. I feel like quitting on my life...
