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QPride is highlighting the diverse stories of its members throughout June for Pride Month with the Humans of Qualtrics project. Bringing Seth's story.
Growing up, the fact that I could be queer never even crossed my mind. I only ever dated girls, and I ended up marrying a woman, so I had to be straight, right? But then what about all those male movie stars that I had obsessions with for some reason? What about those guys I had known growing up who I thought were really cool and I wanted to be friends with so badly?
Honestly, I had never given any of these feelings a second thought because I definitely liked women, and that's all that mattered in my conservative religious upbringing. Yet, In the last few years, I've made a concerted effort to really get to know myself better. My entire life, have I been myself, or have I simply been the person I thought others wanted me to be? As I've grown older, I’ve searched deeper, learned more, and associated with a more diverse group of friends (pretty much all my current friends are gay, lesbian, trans, or non-binary/genderqueer). And as a result of this, I've come to realize that I very much belong within the LGBTQIA+ community. It's the support system I never knew I needed. I have always found myself attracted to PEOPLE, regardless of their gender. Whether cis, trans, or non-binary, I think human beings are beautiful, and I think that we all want to love and feel loved. And when I began to truly understand that, I came to realize that I am pansexual. And yet, being a cis man married to a cis woman, I also recognize that I carry a certain level of privilege, even within the LGBTQIA+ community.
While I am not at all suggesting every queer person needs to go through a certain amount of suffering (the bury your gays trope itself needs to be buried), it has been very easy for me to be myself, and to come to discover my true sexuality, even later in life. But that's not the case for everyone. In particular, there's a calculated attack against trans people sweeping across the globe right now, and so I say that to say this: Trans rights are human rights, and the denial of healthcare, employment, or safe living conditions to trans people is a despicable blight on modern society. We cannot claim to be a kind, caring society while denying rights to one of the most vulnerable demographics. Fight for trans rights, and protect trans kids! As I have discovered myself over the last few years, I have found that true peace can only be found through being our most authentic selves. I love who I am, and I think every single person on earth deserves a future where they can love themselves without fear of how they will be treated.
Seth Turek
Video Production Specialist | Provo | Pansexual/Bisexual/Queer
Thank you for joining us to hear from the Humans of Qualtrics. You can explore the entire series through the links below. Stay tuned for further stories throughout the month.
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