Top 10 Struggles Most LGBT People Have

1. Coming out at the right time

   My identity is kinda complicated...

   Coming out online is easy for me, but in person, not so much. As an asexual grayromantic lesbian and a demigirl, I could relate to this. I use she/they pronouns, if you're curious.

   Asexual: A person who experiences little to no sexual attraction. It's also a spectrum, like demisexual, graysexual, cupiosexual, and so much more. Not only is it a spectrum, it's an orientation itself.

   Lesbian: A non-masculine-aligned person attracted, sexually, romantically, or both, to other non-masculine-aligned genders.

   Grayromantic: In the aromantic spectrum, a person who experiences romantic attraction rarely or at a low intensity.

   Demigirl: A person who identifies partially, but not wholly, as a girl. Some people who identify as this may have another half, like nonbinary, which is the case for me. Others might have a lack of gender, or agender, as their other half.

2. Being shipped with a man or woman

   Okay, but for the most part, it's the lesbians who are more commonly subjected to this. Imagine having your father with you, an LGBT person, and being shipped with the opposite gender, then having to feel that pain.

   I absolutely hate when they ship me with the opposite gender. I'm a lesbian!

   Ugh. So relatable. Being shipped with the opposite gender as you. It's the thing about heteronormativity.

3. Not getting caught

   I know you closeted gays are here looking at this! I know you! Some childhoods have been affected by Britney Spears or looking at N'SYNC posters like they're big girl superfans, or have been influenced by Madonna and Christina Aguilera, using a towel as a wig when parents aren't there. Yeah, when parents get home, it's like "DON'T GET CAUGHT." In this case, it may be the same for some people, especially if they haven't come out.

4. Dealing with stereotypes

   Everyone has been affected by stereotypes perpetuated by the media. Gays are often stereotyped as the girl's best friend who likes drag, watches theater, and loves Cher. Lesbians are stereotyped as butch girls who defend their girlfriends from any man who touches them and then drink booze afterward. These stereotypes are really negative, but remember, not everyone should be stereotyped.

5. Being tied to the rainbow

   It is really honorable to have our own flag as the rainbow, but sometimes, we just see a rainbow and think our gayness intensifies. Other times, we just see it as a rainbow, nothing more. Let's remember that rainbows and LGBT are not always synonymous.

6. Dealing with homophobia

   The homophobia of it all. You remember seeing a dead-eye look when you're hanging out with girls like they're your friends or something more, and then they laugh at you. Sometimes, they get angry at you just because you simply exist.

7. Living in areas where being LGBT is illegal

   Some countries are still conservative about this, sadly. Most of us pray for our fellow LGBT people so they may survive and not get hanged or executed, as some countries still have these laws.

8. Tolerating insults

9. Being categorized based on gender norms

   Ah, the gender binary. Where there are only two genders: male and female. Said genders are based on pronouns, sex assigned at birth, and gender expression.

   It infuriates me when people do this. I'm heterosexual, but LGBT people must feel horrible when they're not allowed to be themselves and are just categorized and expected to act a certain way. It doesn't help that sites like Tumblr, Buzzfeed, and other SJW sites push this narrative. Even when they see cishet people not conforming to stereotypical gender roles, the first thing they do is label them as gay, trans, etc., without even asking. It's really sick.

10. Having people dismiss the concept of bisexuality

    Another thing that's tough about being bisexual is that everyone assumes you're attracted to them. Just because bi people are attracted to both XX and XY chromosomes doesn't mean they're into yours. There are also some people who think all bi people are unfaithful and therefore shouldn't be in a relationship.

    There's a new biphobic trend I've seen emerging lately on Tumblr. Apparently, if you're bi and in an opposite-gender relationship, then you don't count as bi and you're labeled as a "bihet." Today, I saw someone say that being bisexual is transphobic. What? That makes YOU the transphobe because your statement implies transgender is some third gender and unequal to male or female.

The Newcomers
11. ?

    Being called confused

12. ?

    Being misgendered and deadnamed

The Contenders

13. Having people assume your gender

14. Being fetishized

15. Dealing with transphobia

16. Being called edgy and fake

17. Being told it is a phase

18. Dealing with enbyphobia

19. Being labeled as a social justice warrior or woke

20. Being told you don't have a father figure

21. Being seen only as LGBT

22. Being called pedophiles and groomers

23. Being told it is a choice

24. Being told it is a sin

25. Being told it is brainwashing

26. Dealing with biphobia

27. Dealing with panphobia