I came out when I was a teenager, but my real journey began in the years that followed. I grew up in a very Catholic Mexican family where being gay was often treated as something sinful or a choice. For a long time I tried to help the people I loved understand that my existence was not rebellion but truth. Some came to accept me, others never did. Losing those connections, like with my grandfather who still refuses to see me for who I am, was painful. But it also taught me something powerful: I do not need to shrink myself for anyone’s comfort.

In that loss, I found something even stronger: community. My chosen family, my friends, and the queer spaces I have been welcomed into have shown me what real love and acceptance look like. They remind me every day that being gay is not something to survive but something to celebrate.

Being Mexican and being gay are both central to who I am. My culture taught me about faith, tradition, and resilience. My queerness taught me about authenticity, freedom, and love. Together they shape a story of growth and liberation. I no longer see these parts of myself as opposing. They coexist beautifully, like marigolds growing through stone.