Why I Love Being Queer
When I first encountered the concept of queerness in college, my relationship with these parts of myself completely changed. I came to understand, through my studies and joining the community, that these very queer parts of myself were not something to feel ashamed about -- they were something truly remarkable. Embracing these pieces gave me the space and agency to explore my identity outside of the baseline constructs of sex, sexuality and gender that the world told me were “normal,” desired and correct.
It also allowed me to see the ways in which all of us who are marginalized in various, intersecting ways by the world need to be in solidarity with one another -- because our struggles for justice and liberation are not individually compartmentalized -- and that is an integral part of being queer.
… ultimately, I think we should all treasure and value the things that make us different from the rest of the world. My queerness -- or “difference” or “oddness” or “strangeness” or however you want to define it -- is actually one of the most beautiful gifts I have been given in this life and has made me exactly the person I am today.
And that, more than anything, is something to be celebrated.
by James Michael Nichols at the Huffington Post, February 4, 2016 and found HERE on May 24, 2026
Invitation: “My most beautiful gifts are…”
James Michael Nichols is an award-recognized LGBTQ journalist and former editor of HuffPost Queer Voices, where he helped shape national conversations around queer identity, representation, and belonging. His writing and editorial work have centered LGBTQ voices with honesty, vulnerability, and political clarity, and he has also served in leadership roles with Equality North Carolina and other advocacy organizations.
Below please find James Michael Nichols hosts a panel entitled, Prism Presents “The LGBTQ Movement in Focus” with Wade Davis, Sarah McBride & Gabby Rivera.
If you are enjoying The Community Table and would like to support our work consider making a donation. While the offerings on the Community Table will always be free - we appreciate any support you can provide to continue helping us set the table for creating community.
We will meet for the Community Table every Monday at 4:30 pm or 8:00 pm (EST) - Go to our calendar at this link for details: https://courageouscommons.com/events/
June Courageous Citizen
Enjoy Dennis Kucinich’s wisdom below.
“Mr. Speaker, we make war with such certainty, yet we are befuddled how to create peace. This paradox requires reflection if we are to survive. Making and endorsing war requires a secret love of death, and a fearful desire to embrace annihilation. Creating peace requires compassion, putting ourselves in the other person’s place, and all of their suffering and all of their hopes and to act from our heart’s capacity to love, not fear.”
James Michael Nichols offers us a view of the journey toward understanding to acceptance to celebration for LGBTQ+ people. Thank you Circles of Courageous Commons for this reflection...
Happy Pride