y m g n i d n i F W O B N I RA
MOLLY PRING, YEAR 11, GEELONG COLLEGE RAINBOW ALLIANCE MEMBER
‘Visibility’ is such a powerful word to me. I believe that everyone has the right to be visible and to live their lives - true to themselves and without shame. Although any school environment can be intimidating, the Geelong College Rainbow Alliance (GCRA) provides this visibility for students. My only regret about the GCRA is that I was not aware of it sooner. The year 2020 was a challenging one for me. I was in Year 8 and, like everyone, feeling the impact of COVID-19 restrictions. It was also during this time that I began to struggle with my identity. Lockdowns and remote learning meant I spent a lot of time alone, which allowed me to think. It also forced me to confront some truths that, in hindsight, I had been avoiding for a while. I eventually came to the realisation that I was not heterosexual. But I didn’t know any more than that. ‘Gay’ didn’t feel like a label that fit me, but I didn’t really have any other definitions to reach for. It was honestly very scary at first, this uncharted territory, and I had no idea how to navigate it. I couldn’t even really recall seeing evidence or representation of queer people around me - even in the media. It was quite an isolating feeling. Soon enough, though, I started noticing more and more examples of queer culture around me. Whether it was in books, in movies, or at events - I began to realise that queer people were everywhere! Knowing this gave me such comfort, and I instantly felt like I had some level of support while I was exploring my identity. Through research, I stumbled upon the different labels for sexuality that
are commonly used to reference the spectrum of identities: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, Intersex and Asexual. (Usually written as ‘LGBTQIA+’ - the ‘+’ referencing those whose identity falls outside of the other seven labels.) After reading the definitions of each, the one that resonated most with me was ‘bisexual’ - which I discovered was defined as being attracted to more than one gender, such as a female who is attracted to both males and females. To find something that described me so perfectly was a weird feeling, but also an enormous relief. The euphoria I experienced when I first said to myself ‘I am bisexual’ was beautiful. When I felt ready, I came out to my family and a couple of friends, all of whom met my revelation with immense support. However, as the restrictions eased and it was announced that we would return to face-to-face learning, I began to worry. I was proud of what I had learned about myself in the time that had passed, and I wanted to feel like I could express that honestly and freely. I didn’t want to have to hide who I was, but I was concerned about what my fellow students might think. Thinking about the people I knew at school, I couldn’t really think of anyone else at school who was queer. Initially, I
Image: Molly Pring (right) with friend, Fred Ogilvie
