Questioning in quarantine Zachary Khouri Since the COVID-19 pandemic first began, millions of Americans have been forced to stay inside to protect themselves and their families from contracting the virus. LGBTQ teens are building especially unique experiences during this crisis: while many teenagers see quarantine as a chance to sleep in and eat comfort food in front of the TV, it has offered LGBTQ teens time for self-reflection. Chris Smith, who describes their family as “warm and accepting,” has had the opportunity to explore their identity further while in quarantine. Smith’s name has been changed to protect privacy in accordance with Carlmont’s anony-
mous sources policy. “I experimented with labels and was able to find what is comfortable for me. Having an online community is one of the best ways to get to know yourself because there are other people just like you, and there isn’t the threat of having to talk to someone face-to-face,” Smith said. Smith uses neo-pronouns, which replace “she,” “he,” and “they” with labels that more accurately describe people who do not fall under the gender binary of “male” or “female.” Examples of neo-pronouns include xe/xem/xyr and ey/em/ eir. “While I love my pronouns, since they’re such a new phenomenon, I don’t know how comfortable I would feel in an environment full of people who don’t know anything about them,” Smith said. “Being online allows us to spread information and acceptance much easier.” While Smith has primarily had a positive experience, those from unaccepting families are at severe risk of physical or emotional harm. According to The Trevor Project, a non-profit organization focusing on suicide prevention tactics for LGBTQ youth, lesbian, gay, and bisexual teens from unaccepting families are 8.4 times more likely to commit suicide than those who experience little to no levels of familial rejection. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advocates for parents to have “honest and open conversations” with their LGBTQ children to provide them with a safe space if they encounter anti-LGBTQ rhetoric in school or online. Since LGBTQ students comprise only 8% of American high schoolers, those with detrimental home lives face the brunt of the pandemic blues as they struggle with loneliness and alienation from their friends and family. Taylor Johnson, who does not align with any specific gender identity, described quarantine as a challenging experience. Johnson’s name has also been changed to protect their privacy. “Quarantine has made me develop much self-hate, but I’ve also realized the importance of asking for help and support,” Johnson said. The uneasiness that Johnson emphasized is known as gender dysphoria, described by the Mayo Clinic as “the feeling of discomfort or distress that might occur in people whose gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth or sex-related physical characteristics.” They recommend that those suffering from gender dysphoria discuss the issue with a healthcare
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