We all need to see some smiling, friendly, queer faces from time to time. After all, that's part of the reason why so many of us are online: looking for information, art, or resources to feel closer to a sense of community. And while Twitter can be actual hellfire most of the time, sometimes it's really, really good at connecting and uplifting its users with hashtags like #LGBTQglowup.
Over the weekend, members of the community tweeted out their gayby and theyby photos -- young LGBTQ+ people, mostly on the cusp of adolescence -- alongside photos of themselves once they've grown more into their identities. And the result was pretty inspiring.
\u201cI\u2019m more confident. I own my Blackness and queerness in ways I never thought I could.\n\n It didn\u2019t just get better. \n\nI\u2019m healing. I healed. \n\n #LGBTQglowup\u201d— Jon Paul, Ed. D. (They/Them/Tired)\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\u270a\ud83c\udffe (@Jon Paul, Ed. D. (They/Them/Tired)\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\u270a\ud83c\udffe) 1563766920
\u201cFrom closeted Christian to ghey Kween \ud83e\udd73\ud83d\udc8b\ud83d\udc78\ud83c\udffb\ud83d\udc96 #LGBTQglowup\u201d— yoey\u2077 \uc694\uc12d (@yoey\u2077 \uc694\uc12d) 1563758412
\u201ctrust the process. #LGBTQglowup\u201d— the monochromatic monarch. (@the monochromatic monarch.) 1563751554
\u201ci\u2019m 2 years on T today \ud83e\udd2a #LGBTglowup #lgbtqglowup\u201d— trans pinhead stan (@trans pinhead stan) 1563756163
None— \u26d3\ud83d\udda4Thats So Brittany \ud83d\udda4\u26d3 (@\u26d3\ud83d\udda4Thats So Brittany \ud83d\udda4\u26d3) 1563739330
\u201cI think this might be the definition of a #LGBTQglowup \ud83d\ude02\u201d— Anthony Bowens (@Anthony Bowens) 1563736922
None— Blair (he/they) (@Blair (he/they)) 1563749291
\u201cThese pics were taken just under two years apart! #LGBTQglowup\u201d— Jessica (@Jessica) 1563728805
\u201cLittle nic and big nic #LGBTQglowup\u201d— Nicole Bloomgarden (@Nicole Bloomgarden) 1563734591
It's in moments like these that I'm thankful I downloaded the app. Want to join in? Make an account and post a photoset to Twitter yourself.
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