Celebrating Yourself: Pierre's Story

My name is Pierre (Pi-Re), I am 28 years old and I come from the suburbs of Lyon. With my basic knowledge of foreign languages, I have had the opportunity to work in marketing in Taiwan for 5 years. As an LGBTQ+ person, I have found my identity and managed my relationships with others, thanks to the support of my family and friends who have been open-minded and accepting of me for who I am. However, the attitudes of society towards LGBTQ+ people in France have affected my daily life, and I decided to move out of France due to concerns about my safety.

 

When I was 18, there was an incident that I remember very well. That day, I went to a club with my friends. Among our group of friends, there were two male friends who were slender and dressed like women. As we were leaving the nightclub, two people followed us and shouted foul language and threats at us. Luckily, I had pepper spray with me that day, which helped us escape the dangerous situation that day safely. What happened made me afraid to be in public for a while. But eventually, I understood that living in fear was not what I wanted. I chose to live my life with caution and not let fear control my life. However, the increasing anti-LGBTQ+ behavior, especially online, is a matter of concern and should be controlled by the government.

 

My LGBTQ+ identity has impacted my personal and professional life. Although I try to be authentic, I sometimes feel uncomfortable when coworkers or people I just know ask me questions about my relationships or sexual orientation. Whenever I am in such a situation, I choose to educate them to create understanding and acceptance instead of venting my frustration.

Living in Taiwan, I have found it to be a safe place for LGBTQ+ people. Compared to France, Taiwan is less hostile towards LGBTQ+ people, especially online where the younger generation is more open-minded, curious and asks questions to understand differences instead of judging someone by their sexual orientation, religious beliefs or background.

In order to create an environment that is friendly to the LGBTQ+ community, we need appropriate policies and actions. Creating knowledge and understanding within educational institutions is very important, not just to promote same-sex attraction, but to educate young people about diverse sexual expressions and the place of the LGBTQ+ community in society. Instilling and creating understanding from a young age can help the younger generation to be more accepting of diversity and help reduce violence against the LGBTQ+ community.

 

I hope that in the future, coming out as LGBTQ+ will become a normalized thing, not an occasion. I imagine a world where everyone can express their sexuality without fear of judgment or backlash, and when stories about “same-sex attraction” are shared, I hope to be responded to with genuine interest, asking for the other person’s name and their story of how they met, and getting the same response as those in straight or heterosexual relationships.

 

For anyone struggling with being LGBTQ+ or facing discrimination, my advice is: Put your safety first. Don’t feel sorry for who you are. If there is a hostile response to coming out, try to explain it to them and don’t take it personally. Surround yourself with people who support you for who you are, and distance yourself from those who are against you. Your time is valuable and deserves to be accepted by those who accept you unconditionally.

 

LGBTQ+ allies and members can work together to create a more inclusive society by choosing to respond by educating others. Instead of being offended by slurs, see them as an opportunity to help people understand and reduce hatred for people who are gay or transgender. Helping people understand that being gay or transgender is not wrong, that being who we are does not hurt or affect their lives negatively, and that they have no reason to feel uncomfortable or prejudice against us. Together, we can create a society where acceptance and understanding are paramount.

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