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Coming out was not a single moment for me. It was a slow, internal reckoning. There were no visible role models in Las Vegas at the time. No openly lesbian public figures lighting the way. If there were others like me, they were navigating the same fear, the same coded language. It still took me until I was 38 to officially come out!

Lately, I’ve been reflecting deeply on queer joy: what it means to me, and how it ripples through our community and our loved ones.

I am the son of an incredibly resilient,  strong black woman who understood the power of community.

For many of us, coming out is both an act of courage and a lifelong process. Each disclosure is a leap of faith, a hope that the person on the other side will hold our truth with care. And yet, coming out is only half the story.
What if we focused on the idea of coming in?

Being part of the planning committee truly changed my perspective on LGBTQ+ matters in the East Coachella Valley. I always thought all the LGBTQ+ events were out of reach, happening too far away for me to be a part of. When ECV Pride came around, I began to realize that I had more of a community close to home.

How could I ever forget the moment my sister confessed she liked girls? We were between classes — I was in third grade, and she was in fourth. I remember accepting her just as she was. In my innocence, there was no judgment. I simply accepted her truth. Without hesitation. Without questions. Without judgment. Just acceptance and love.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Mother’s Day just so happens to be in May as well, so I am going to share a story about my mom and the topic of mental health.

April is Volunteer Appreciation Month—a time to recognize the people who help bring our mission to life every single day. At The LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert, volunteers are more than helpers; they are co-creators of the vibrant, welcoming community we envision—where LGBTQ+ people can thrive and live authentically in supportive, inclusive spaces.

I read a great post on Instagram this week that was a beautiful reminder and validated so many of my current feelings. Trey (@whatsonemorepothos) said “trans people do more than die” and called for a collective response rooted in abolition where we look inside of ourselves and between us interpersonally to change beliefs and behaviors. Anyone consuming media of any kind right now knows that we are witnessing violent attacks and attempted erasure of our trans histories and identities.