With Pride Month comes celebration, but for me, it also serves as a time of reflection on how far I’ve been able to progress as a queer person.
Pride hits a little differently this year, not because of the current political climate with an uncertain future, but because of an important personal milestone.
I have now crossed the threshold of living more than half my life as a queer person.
I came out July 10, 2010, as a terrified 16-year-old with doubts of what my future looked like.
It is extraordinary I have lived nearly a whole lifetime since coming out.
Some days are harder than others, especially when I hear of new anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in the works.
But throughout it all, I’ve found solace in the support I’ve given to, and received from, others in the community.
I always knew I wanted to help others, especially those who were part of the LGBTQ+ community like myself. It started with helping open my high school’s Gay Straight Alliance before I even came out. They were the first group of people I felt safe coming out to and existing as a queer person openly.
From there, I was able to organize to have representation within our school at a time where being openly queer wasn’t fully accepted.
After high school, I became more involved in my local Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) after the organization awarded me a scholarship to attend college to study as a pharmacist. PFLAG remains an organization I stay involved in to this day with the Akron and Cleveland chapters.
Throughout college, I continued my work to impact LGBTQ+ community on campus at Ohio Northern University (ONU). While at ONU, I routinely was involved with the Open Doors, the college’s GSA annual fundraiser, and A Rubi Affair, a drag show featuring The Rubi Girls from Dayton as well as student performers. My drag name was Miss Clara Fication, and over five years, I raised about $5000 for the AIDS Resource Center while also earning the title of Miss ONU ‘16 and ‘17.
Since graduation, I’ve worked in different pharmacist positions, but nothing has been as rewarding as what I do now as a pharmacist specializing in HIV treatment, prevention, sexual health and gender-affirming care.
Having an accepting family when I came out initially as gay and later in life as non-binary is a core reason for my success, but that is followed by a strong network of friends and allies who support both professional and personal ventures.
Being in a professional environment that openly affirms my identity and the patients I serve has led to who I am today: A queer person with a positive success story who is crossing the threshold of being out and proud for more than half of my life.
Support within the community and from our allies go a long way. It doesn’t look the same for everyone, but it can be cumulative to the success of individual members and the LGBTQ+ community at large.
Today, I reflect not only on the support I have gotten thus far in life and the support I give to my LGBTQ+ community members, but also the support I will give and get in the future.
Pride is a journey that never ends so long as support exists.
Austin Hopkins is a Summit County resident, local activist and pharmacist.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Being queer is a journey. It helps to have support systems | Opinion
Reporting by Austin Hopkins, Guest opinion / Akron Beacon Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Austin Hopkins, Guest opinion | USA TODAY Network
