New to the Gay World: How To Start?

Once you are openly out as a queer, you might feel lonely and isolated, like you are on an island. I promise you, you are not alone you just have to leave your normal life and enter the new world. This new world is a new wonder land that you never knew existed, but you got to go out and explore.

How to Start?
1) YouTube

http://www.worldphoto.org/community/social/

The Internet has not only brought the world closer, it has also united a very distant community. There are several openly gay vloggers on YouTube from gay to trans to drag queen. Most vloggers on Youtube will help you, or at least try to, with any problems or questions you might have about being queer and this new world. Most queer vloggeres are funny and shine a different view into the gay community as it is today and how to bring support and make a difference for others.

2)Gay Movies/Short Films
With the world becoming more accepting of the LGBTQ community, LGBTQ movies have been made and are now widely known. In my opinion, here are some of the greatest gay movies include Prayers for Bobby, Shelter, and Shank. Some lesbian movies include I Can't Think Straight, The Gymnast, and Loving Annabelle. There are also many short gay films that can be found throughout YouTube. Some great short films include The Boy Next Door, Running Without Sound, and Who We Are.

3)Gay Chats
The internet has not only brought about YouTube, but also chat rooms to connect to people all over the world. Like with anything on line there are weirdos and creepier, so if you do use any chat rooms be careful and never meet up with anyone you met online. On the other hand these chats are a great way to connect to people you might not met in your every day life. A chat room for youth I will recommend is TrevorSpace. This chat is run by the Trevor Project and is a way for LGBTQ youth to connect with people and help them feel connected and not alone.

4)Gay Books
I know this is the 21st century and everything is faster and better. This modern age has brought about very lazy people, bu books still unite people, like Harry Potter. Gay novels are a great way not just to work your brain and your imagination, but also to hear how different gay people live. Robin Reardon in  my opinion is the best gay novelist in the universe  she wrote books like Thinking Straight,  Awake, The Evolution of Ethan Pope and others too. All her books are great and show a different again on the gay community.

5)GSA
Most people do not even know what GSA stands for, and no it isn't girl scouts of america, it stands for Gay Straight Alliance. This club is great for connecting to LGBTQ people in the community/school. The purpose of GSA is to bring activism in our community and awareness to the community about the LGBTQ community. This is not only a way for LGBTQ people to learn about the LGBTQ community but also to bring people together for a common fight.

So start getting involved.

*I in no way guaranteeing that these people will help you, or even respond to a question you ask them. I also understand that not all gay chats work for people, so I'm sorry ahead of time if it doesn't work out with you.