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, I have an aquarium with my five beloved pet fish, I love the beach, the color blue, and my beautiful girlfriend named Alexis.

I became involved in volunteering for the LGBTQ+ community back in 2019 when I became a student leader for NOVA Pride Prom and I have since helped out with and attended Safe Space NOVA events. I started volunteering for the LGBTQ+ community, specifically LGBTQ+ youth, because I wanted to help make others feel the way I feel about myself. I am incredibly proud of who I am and I am unapologetically myself. I love being gay and I want my peers to also love themselves for being LGBTQ+ too. I think it is very important to uplift and empower LGBTQ+ youth, because with confidence and self love, anything is possible. 

It’s important to target 14-18 year olds because that is usually when one starts questioning and figuring out who they are and that can be a challenging time. Having extra support from organizations like Safe Space NOVA are valuable to LGBTQ+ youth, because it can relieve some of the negative feelings that come with being LGBTQ+.

 I remember always feeling like I was the only one that was like me, and I always felt like an outcast in comparison to my straight peers at school. So, knowing about Safe Space NOVA and their events, it gave me something to look forward to and it was a chance to meet others like me, making me feel more included and a part of something. 

It was also not uncommon to see my fellow LGBTQ+ classmates dealing with depression or anxiety and inviting them or letting them know about Safe Space NOVA events was always a great way to break the ice and reach out to others who may be struggling. By working with and attending Safe Space NOVA events I hope I can become a familiar face for others and help others become more comfortable with who they are.