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#Pride #AsianHate #Gay

#PrideMonth is a rough time for me. I know I belong in the #LGBTQ+ community, it's inclusive for all, but I've experienced a lot of Asian hate/racism from within the community in the past. It *should* be better now since there's more awareness of Anti-Asian hate, but Pride Month triggers past trauma and it's hard to let it go.

When I came out to my friends, I lost most of them. Afterwards, I tried using gay apps to connect with people. The amount of fetishization that happened from within, not to mention descriptions of "no femmes, fats, or asians", I grew incredibly depressed. I hated my body and my ethnicity. It wasn't until I met my amazing partner that he pulled me out of self-deprecation and helped me raise my self-esteem/self-worth. I started embracing my ethnicity, personality, and differences. I'm much happier now.

I want to remind people to be open. Racism/prejudice/hate can come from places one might not expect. You never know what experiences one has been through either.