A moment from the Youth Project, June 2022
Yana sharing about Outventure
- What have you gotten out of this experience?
During this project, I felt comfortable talking about my sexuality for the first time. In our small community, I felt like what I have been experiencing is perfectly fine. Usually when I am insecure about something I look for validation from my surroundings. Unfortunately, LGBTQ+ related conversations are still taboo in my country. However, once I started my Outventure, I was surrounded by aknowledgeable and kind people with similar experiences to mine. There I felt warmly accepted the way I am. Thanks to that I do not feel weird and scared to speak up anymore.
- Share magical moments?
The day when we had ballroom and voguing is one of my highlights because I saw the people that I already knew in a different light. I saw how they embrace characteristics of their appearance that they feel confident with and that showed me the beauty of diversity.
- What challenges did you find? How did you overcome them?
The first challenge that I faced was using the correct pronouns. At first glance, it should not be that hard especially when everyone has their pronoun written on their name tag. But it is hard to stop assuming people’s gender if you have never met a non-binary person before. I made many mistakes and I am grateful for the patience, support and forgiveness of others. Now, I know more about gender identity and I can also teach the people around me about it. That was one valuable outcome for me because it destroyed the binary world that I lived in and opened my eyes to appreciate the diversity in the world.
- How did your life change after the project?
I believe that it changed for the better. I officially came out to my parents and organized an educational night for them on LGBTQ+ topics. I am happy that they want to understand me and I believe they will become great allies one day. Also, my team and I organized a photo exhibition in Sofia which was a fantastic opportunity for us to share our knowledge. We hosted the event in a board games bar where our friends and many new people came to see our photos and hear about our experience in Outventure. I can not express what a relief it is to speak about sexuality and gender orientation in a public place as if this is the most normal thing to talk about. I would love to do this again. I am extremely proud of the teamwork in the Bulgarian group and I believe that this is just the beginning of our collaboration for the sake of LGBTQ+ visibility in Bulgaria.
Didi sharing about Outventure
- What have you gotten out of this experience?
I feel like I finally found myself after so long. I feel normal again. It has really helped me experience life again.
- What challenges have you found?
The challenges I found came from my gender identity. Luckily, I got to talk to so many different people with different gender expressions and identities and that was very helpful and informative for me. I still struggle with it in my language but this experience has helped me to be closer to figuring myself out.
- How did your life change after the project?
I’m happier and calmer with myself. I have the confidence to speak my truth. This project has really helped me a lot.
Eli sharing about Outventure
- What was meaningful to you?
For me it was when we were spending time together – sharing, talking, walking, listening, drawing, thinking, brushing teeth, petting the animals, eating, sitting, shitting, showering, dancing, playing, singing, creating, crying, laughing, hugging, being silent… and of course loving together!
- Share magical moment/s:
Every time when Pepa (one of the dogs) just sat next to me. The last dinner(supper) we had together. Laying in the hammock. When there was music playing around cause we had to gather. Painting and sharing the pictures that represents us. Listening to soo many different and personal stories… And definitely having my first kiss!
- What challenges have you found?
Uff, where to start hahah… Being so open to people in general but especially about my sexuality. Before this project in my life when sharing to people about my sexuality I’ve gotten mostly misunderstanding, rejection, non-acceptance, anger, laughter, contempt and etc. Also it was a challenge for me to sleep for the first time in a tent, the recycling and the wild animals/insects.
- How has your life changed after the project?
Ahh, I don’t know how to put it into words cause it’s a feeling that I have… a peaceful, curious and grateful feeling afterwards.
Zara sharing about Outventure
- What have you gotten out of this experience?
I have learned more about my personal complexity and gender identity, how unique I am in the way I see and experience the world and how many different perspectives are possible to exist. I made friends and saw people that were a mirror of myself on a deep level, therefore I really met the opportunity to share and be honest.
- Share magical moments?
The day when the proud parents visited us with the idea to share their personal stories was so touching and intimate. I met a child, a trans girl, that made me feel very special and together had really magical, blissful moments. Also the day we had the ballroom, was very eye-opening because I saw so much more of my personality and other people embraced themselves in a very beautiful way.
- What challenges have you found?
For me it was challenging to process everything I was going through and stay open and focused. There were moments I felt that what was happening was too overwhelming, but I knew I had to stay and be ready for the next part of the program, where I am going to learn something new and beneficial. I overcame those challenges by saying to myself that this is a process of growing and becoming stronger and more connected to the hidden parts of myself.
- How did your life change after the project?
After the project I started to integrate what I have learned and I also started to be more compassionate and perceiving myself and others as much more than their gender.