December 8, 2020 My name is Jonny Vriesema, and I am a 28-year-old gay man. I am in my sixth year of teaching physical education, including time spent in Jacksonville, Florida, Miami, Florida, and now Worcester, Massachusetts. I grew up in what I like to call the “white picket fence” household in Whitinsville, Massachusetts. Two [...]
November 24, 2020 Words by Chris Malpartida It was during my junior year of high school when I knew I was gay and there was no way to change that. As time passed, I became very comfortable with the future I had fabricated in my mind—one without my family and friends. It was a sad future [...]
November 10, 2020 Words by Zoe Kim Dear Mom and Dad, When I was struggling with my sexuality, it was not because I feared that you would not be understanding. If anything, I knew you would be. Instead, my fears were rooted in the possibilities of social exile and of failing in my role as [...]
October 20, 2020 Words by Theo Rabinowitz My coming out journey wasn’t traditional, but then again, I don’t think there is such a thing as a traditional coming out! Doing a Facebook post, or large group announcement largely wasn’t the route I chose to go, and I came out to different people in different parts of [...]
October 6, 2020 Words by Matt Lynch Hello Safe Space NOVA Community! My name is Matt Lynch and I am a 29-year-old gay man. I came out back in April 2020 via an article in Outsports.com. I have been a college basketball coach for 10+ years, working within both Men’s and Women’s basketball. I truly [...]
September 22, 2020 Words by Jason Watler Most youth want to be seen and acknowledged for who they truly are. I came out during my senior year in high school at 17. It was a bold step into coming into my truth and inviting folks in. After I’ve graduated from high school I considered myself [...]
September 8, 2020 Words by Amari Ice I came out to my mom when I was 12 years old. Right before I told her, I packed my backpack full of clothes just in case my parents kicked me out like the stories I saw on the news. Terrified and half trembling on the inside, I [...]
August 25, 2020 Words by Jhamy Carey Hello Safe Space NOVA! My name is Jhamy Carey, I am 19 years old and a proud lesbian. I use she/her/hers pronouns and I am an incoming freshman at George Mason University this fall. Some things you should know about me is that I’m a big Buffalo Bills fan, [...]
August 11, 2020 Words by Lauren Brown I was raised in southern Virginia - the oldest girl of four kids and the daughter of a preacher. I was pretty sheltered growing up and went to a small Baptist school in North Carolina for undergrad. Around the age of twenty, I had my first boyfriend but [...]
July 28, 2020 Q1: How important is an organization like Safe Space NOVA to the LGBT+ youth community? Organizations dedicated to ensuring all young people, especially LGBT+ young people, have a space to be and express themselves are so critical for our community. When I was younger, I always had people – family, friends, teachers [...]
