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The upcoming edition of The Frosty Bugle will be called "Wintreath's Faces of Pride", and I was hoping I could get some help in putting it together.

So far 7 people have filled out the new orientation profile field, and so far no two answers match! I feel like that speaks to the maturity and vibrancy of our LGBTQ+ community, and I would like to highlight that in this edition in a way that educates people about the many facets of who is part of that community. I'm wondering if some of you who filled it out would like to write a short snippet on why and how you came to realize you are who you are. Nothing big...I'm asking for 200 words or less so I can fit it in the quick-read format of TFB (if you'd like to write a separate, longer version, you can do so here too and I can link to your full story along with the short version).

The Frosty Bugle is distributed here on the forums and on NationStates, and some of our ambassadors have chosen to use it as a foreign dispatch in our embassies and consulates. Don't feel pressured at all to contribute if you're not comfortable with it going out beyond our own community. However, I thought it would be an awesome look at who we are as people in this community, and I appreciate anyone that chooses to.

And for those who haven't filled in the new profile field and would like to, you can find it in your profile settings.

I feel like the way I discovered I was bisexual was pretty normal- some actress in a movie, my best friend, and a whole lot of “am or aren’t I?”. And plenty of religious induced anxiety.

TL;DR - Too Long; Don’t Read

I can’t remember if it was Rachel McAdams in The Notebook or Scarlett Johansson in… well anything. What I do remember was being absolutely fixated on both and being jealous of their romantic counterparts in movies- Strike One. (Note: Since coming out as enby, it remains to be seen if the jealousy was jealousy over the romance or jealousy over their gender presentation. If we’re honest, probably both right? I digress.) I chose to ignore it. A, because it was probably just me being jealous because they were pretty. Totally. And B, I went to a pretty… intense?… Baptist church. Needless to say even if it wasn’t jealousy, it was better to stuff those feelings away- so I thought.

Then there was my best friend Jas. We were incredibly close through grade school- honestly I think she and I were more emotionally intimate than most boyfriends I’d ever had. We hung out one on one constantly, not really all that concerned with group outings. Never a birthday or holiday was missed and we went all out- flowers, favorite snacks, carefully planned gifts. Lots of movie nights and snuggles and “joke” kisses because of games like Truth or Dare or Spin the Bottle with friends. Took us until years later before either of us admitted- to each other or ourselves- that we acted that way in hopes of winning the other over. We went as far as looking at studio apartments and talking about the pets we’d adopt together when we left for uni before we even addressed this- somehow it just hadn’t occurred to us! Strike Two. (Note: We didn’t end up together ultimately but we both have wonderful partners for whom we share the same deep affections for. The end of that chapter is still a happy one.)

I went through a lot of fluctuation. “Am I gay? Straight? Am I being exclusionary by claiming bisexual? Am I pan?” (No to all of the above). I went through periods of time where I leaned one way or the other hard- one month where I couldn’t fathom ever having been into guys and another where I couldn’t see myself being with girls ever. (Note: When I was younger, I wasn’t even aware there was anything else. Obviously I know better now.) I think what finally set me straight (but not really lol) were the zealots in my life. It was easy to ignore and be non-committal to my feelings on my bisexuality when they weren’t being confronted. However my fire and brimstone Baptist church liked to drag on LGBTQ+ identities every week, twice a week. What made me furious on behalf of my friends began alienating and hurting me personally- and it didn’t take a lot of introspection to figure out why by that point. Strike Three. I’m out.

I have been officially out of the closet since 2014 and now, in the Year of our Lord 2022, am a proud pagan bisexual enby. It took me a while to get here and to accept myself and I’ll fight for myself and for others like me until my dying days.

I'm still figuring out things about myself. My roommate is convinced I don't even like girls and I've thought about it a lot but I don't think that's true I think I just like people. Any people. I don't think I even have a type just that I need to be friends with them first. I knew I liked boys for a long time but only recently admitted that cause yanno closeted by my religious upbringing haha. And I think I'm happier being with a boy now than I was with any of my ex girlfriends but I still think I'd be able to date a girl if I wasn't happy where I am now. 

I'm pretty much always figuring myself out, and to me labels are a hinderance to that progress since to me they're a box that you put yourself in and proclaim to the world...but what happens if another box is more comfortable, and then another box after that?

To me, I reject the idea of boxing myself in a specific label, and that applies to orientation as well.  I put a semi jokey answer for mine because much like how I explained gender, I'm first and foremost Michi, not a homosexual/heterosexual, heteroflexible/homoflexible, or whatever other terms out there since giving a name sets it in stone, which much like gender I don't see orientation as anything but fluid and ever changing.

And I've pretty much felt like this for a good while, but I usually fall into some label because other people don't seem to really be able to deal with not being able to identify someone without that kind of help...so I adapt when needed and give myself appropriate on the surface labels despite how unnecessary I see them personally.

Thanks for sharing your stories! I've wrote the draft of the article and sent it to you for your review.

With the draft written, submissions to the article are closed, but feel free to share your stories of how and why you came to decide you were here if you'd like. The article will encourage people to do so as well.

Damn. If I had seen this i would've done it

Damn. If I had seen this i would've done it

I can't speak for others but I would certainly still be interested in hearing your story!

everybody's story is unique.  i learn something new with every story i hear or read

Yes, yes, I know this is late, I'm doing this not for the article on the newsletter, I'm doin it cause.. y not?

So, recently, I came out as *drum roll* queer. *cough*

Heres the very long and stupid story of how I decided I was E V E R Y T H I N G.

1/3: Bi for some time

Aight. First, let me tell you some things 'bout me.
1: As always, I was raised to be straight.
2: My parents are Christian.
Alright. Now, when I first found out about being gay, (or anything) I was 9. I always assumed heterosexuality was the only sexuality. Now when I first found out about this.. I immediately thought like: OH YEAH THAT'S ME. 9-10 year old Gabe was wrong. Wrong.

2/3: What the hell am I??

Next up, pan, oh nvm, I'm totally bi, I mean, aero-ace.. demi?  This was me for a loooong time. Not much else to say. One month I'm bi, the next I'm pan, aero-ace, etc.

3/3 Nothing and everything

So, this was me. But, I met a couple of friends who were also part of the LGBTQ+ community. And, through some discussion, one of my new friends said, "You could just say you're queer." ...THANK YOU [censored friend name].

So, my current life. I haven't came out to my parents yet.. Idc. I'm queer, I have many friends who are with me in the effort, and my straight friend is still simping over a lesbian.

@San Holo(Josli.): Thanks for sharing your story! That's a lot like it was for me...in my time, I've been bi, gay, bi, pan, and now demi (a determination I only made a year or two ago). It's pretty neat how what we call ourselves change as we explore ourselves and the wide world of labels out there, lol. At one time I thought that was odd, but now I see it's pretty common, so it's always awesome to read other stories like that.

Yes, yes, I know this is late, I'm doing this not for the article on the newsletter, I'm doin it cause.. y not?

So, recently, I came out as *drum roll* queer. *cough*

Heres the very long and stupid story of how I decided I was E V E R Y T H I N G.

1/3: Bi for some time

Aight. First, let me tell you some things 'bout me.
1: As always, I was raised to be straight.
2: My parents are Christian.
Alright. Now, when I first found out about being gay, (or anything) I was 9. I always assumed heterosexuality was the only sexuality. Now when I first found out about this.. I immediately thought like: OH YEAH THAT'S ME. 9-10 year old Gabe was wrong. Wrong.

2/3: What the hell am I??

Next up, pan, oh nvm, I'm totally bi, I mean, aero-ace.. demi? This was me for a loooong time. Not much else to say. One month I'm bi, the next I'm pan, aero-ace, etc.

3/3 Nothing and everything

So, this was me. But, I met a couple of friends who were also part of the LGBTQ+ community. And, through some discussion, one of my new friends said, "You could just say you're queer." ...THANK YOU [censored friend name].

So, my current life. I haven't came out to my parents yet.. Idc. I'm queer, I have many friends who are with me in the effort, and my straight friend is still simping over a lesbian.

Ah yes, the inevitible simping for someone you absolutely can't have no matter how much you want it.

It's kind of like me with straight guys.  I know that chances are super low to nonexistant that I'd ever snag one and bring them to my side of the field, but that doesn't stop me from having a huge crush on some.  

Thanks for sharing your story though! What you said is a big part of why I just choose to disregard giving things a label, since we're always exploring and may surprise ourselves with what we find.

@Chanku I'm with Tau and Mateo, share it anyways! I always love seeing/hearing everyone's stories.