Kailey Y.
MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA
How would you identify your sexuality?
Free love, man. I love people, and that’s as real as it gets.
Describe your coming out. Are you coming out in some way by participating in this project?
I had the amazing opportunity to attend a small, quirky performing arts high school with a very accepting student body. As artists, we were all a little weird, and I was coming out at the same time a friend in my freshman music theory class—it was a really cute moment. After that, it was like telling people my shoe size. I was still a little hesitant about who I blatantly came out to, but there were a lot of girls of the same orientation, which made it more comfortable.
If you could change one thing about mainstream society to improve the lives of LGBTQ+ people, what would it be?
A priority could be eradicating stereotypes and archetypes, or simply the notion of any sort of “type” when it comes to gender and sexuality. Preconceived ideas function only as limitations.
If one more person is empowered to be who they are and to become who they want to be, we all move forward.
Why should people support same-sex marriage?
Well, it’s been said that if gays want to be as miserable as heterosexuals in marriage then why not let them! The main reason is very simple, yet we still have to fight for it despite all of our advancements as a society: equality. Everyone should have the same rights, period. It would be a considerable step forward in fighting the prevailing ignorance here in this country and elsewhere, which ultimately holds us back as human beings. Imagine how beautiful the world would be if we all opened our eyes.
Why did you want to be a part of this project?
I wanted to show my support and let my voice be heard, especially in light of all that’s going on right now. I think that for every LGBTQ+ story there is out there, if one more person is empowered to be who they are and to become who they want to be, we all move forward.
Has this project helped you or changed your life in anyway?
I’ve met some of the most amicable, insightful, and inspiring people, and I’ve witnessed an amazing amount of support. I’ve learned that there is no longer a stigma associated with being part of the LGBTQ+ community: we are no longer ashamed and secretive, but proud and transparent. We are at a point in which our adversaries are the ones who now need to justify their misguided convictions.