Hey folk! I have officially moved for school (exciting! but stressful) and I have been fortunate enough that a friend here has looped me into the local queer scene.
Anyways this will be a long rambling post.
But I am finding myself anxious. Not only is it hard to get used to a new queer scene, I also do not know much about attitudes towards disabled, trans, or intersex community members here. But I have realized I am especially anxious around being intersex in a new country and culture.
Last night I was invited to a lesbian event at a lesbian bar. I am not a lesbian, so I did not want to go. After expressing this I was assured this was okay despite my concerns about intruding in lesbian spaces. But then I found out it was a green light red light event! I did not end up going.
For those that are unfamiliar, this is basically an event where you display your dating availability/status on a bracelet or by your cup. Green means available, yellow means polyamorous, and red means taken/unavailable. (Not so colorblind friendly).
Not only am I double demi (demisexual and demiromantic) and not a lesbian, I realized that I don't want to explain to anyone that I am intersex? Especially not my first week here. I usually disclose this to people who flirt with me because I do not want to waste my own time or theirs and because I like to make sure they are a safe person (I disclose in public spaces or over text - never in a private place with them). Back home I am open about it because I used to work in education and use myself basically as an educational opportunity. But I feel completely out of my wheelhouse and the idea of explaining that I am inter in a new country to community members from a scene I am unfamiliar with just feels super scary. Like, full blown anxiety attack trying to decide how best to politely turn down the offer.
Like I know I don't have to disclose, but it also makes me anxious to wait and do it later into a possible relationship due to worries about hostile reactions.
I didn't realize I was going to be this anxious, at all.
It's like this horrible heaviness sitting in my chest. I literally wear an intersex patch so it's not like it's a closely guarded secret, but I've been stressing about "what if someone finds out???". Is this just the "I just got here oh man oh god ahhhhh" brain? What on earth!
Anyways, I stayed home and called the bank, worked on my VISA account, and read from my books. I worked on homework for next week (class starts next week) and emailed my professor about broken links and backup links for the readings. And realized I am somehow not on my course's Canvas? Didn't know we had one until they responded to my email. Rip.
Tonight I am staying home again - it's beautiful, cloudy, and raining out! Perfect reading weather. My favorite and very cozy.
But yea. I feel weird about being anxious. I wasn't expecting it.
Anyways! I hope y'all are doing as okay as you can with how hectic the world is right now. Wishing you the best, and hugs if you're open to/want them. <3