To whom am I pointing? Pride today is difficult. I appreciate the notion, the very idea, of having a month to celebrate our minority community. In fact, I think the existence of Pride Month is necessary for progressing the acceptance, recognition, and visibility of our community. I am not the type to suggest that progress Read more

Most people understand the idea of family — the people in one’s life that are concrete and lack the ability to be exiled. Typically one’s family consists of blood, married, and adopted relatives, all of which share at least one common ancestor. It’s, unfortunately, not always the case that a family has exile-impossibility. We see Read more

I am not a parent.  Most parents I know suggest that they want the best for their children; they want their children to lead a life of happiness, healthiness, and success. These three attributes though, are subjective. An exact model for achieving happiness, healthiness, and success does not exist; each of us determines our own Read more

When I came out as gay in 2018, I was met with quite a few, “Well, yeah, I already knew that” or “Just like we always thought.” A terribly unwelcomed, unnecessary, and unimportant way to respond; Those thoughts should be kept to oneself. Frankly, do I much care about these comments one way or the Read more

Motherhood is a funny little concept, isn’t it? Yes, it is. In theory, it has a simple definition that’s easy to understand, but in practice, well, some may feel confined.  Asking any person reading this, or anyone in your life, how they define motherhood, how they feel about their mother, how they identify with motherhood, Read more

My brother, Andrew Joseph Katsbulas, was born on June 12th, 2006. I was 5 years old. From the moment I found out my mom was pregnant – which I don’t quite remember – to the moment he arrived, I was consumed with my eagerness to meet him. My older sister, Serena, and I did not Read more

Where do I begin with the one that got away? Our story is so long, so bold, and so brash. A view, a hickey, and string of your tattoos. A hookup, album release, and versatility between the two. A cheater, a liar, but somehow still, “I love you”. We’ve crossed this city, back and forth, Read more

Where do I differ, from you or from anyone you know? What parts of me are different, the same, or reflect distortedly? Are you curious about my context? Have you pondered the reasoning behind my actions? Do you care? Should you care?  Please, hear my silent prayer.  In the previous chapter, I discussed the importance Read more

Queer as a label, like the many identities that exist within it, has many definitions. Queer can mean alternative; Queer could mean deviant; Queer sometimes means odd; Queer, on occasion, means to rebel and to defy; Queer potentially signifies uniqueness; Queer can be nonconformist; Queer can define many people, many partners, many relations, many actions, Read more