It's June. Pride month
It's a month that's dedicated to those who are figuring out who they are , who they want to be and maybe who they have always been
But when you are in Foster care sometimes this is a little harder then it sounds
After all , how are you meant to figure out who you are if you don't even know where you will live one week to the next ?
Who do you tell if you think you might be a part of the LGBTQIA+ community? Your foster carer who you have known for a week ? Maybe your social worker . Perhaps if you are lucky , your friends at school who you beg silently will be supportive of you.
Growing up , I never had the chance to stop to figure out my identity
My Foster carer would always tell me that it was okay if I liked girls , if I liked boys or both. I would always Insist that I wasn't gay. I couldn't be right? I never really thought about it
As I grew older it became more obvious that maybe I wasn't as straight as I thought.
I felt comfortable being able to speak to my Foster carer about this , after all they had been telling me for years it was okay
And it is
I'm a proud asexual, non binary person who was able to flourish because of the support I was given
Unfortunately not everyone is as lucky
It's crucial that those in the Foster care system are supportive of all , race , gender , sexuality and region.
It's hard being throw into the system. It's even harder being thrown into a system where you are afraid to be yourself.
To the young people reading this , you are valid, you are loved and you are enough
To the adults reading. Be supportive , be a safe space for queer youth. Be a shoulder to lean on .
Most importantly to everyone just love unapologetic
Take up that space you deseve .
Whether you are out and proud or weather you are so deep in the closet you hit narnia
You matter
You are valid
You are worthy
And you are enough
If you are struggling , if you are not ready to come out to those around you. Below are some help lines and numbers
Stonewall - www.stonewall.org.uk
The proud Trust- www.theproudtrust.org
Switchboard- www.switchboard.LGBT
Number - 0300 330 0630
MIND - WWW.MIND.ORG.UK
Number - 0300 123 3393
Samaritans - www.samaritans.org
Number - 116 123